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SPDC Spends N467m On 30 Overseas Scholars
L-R apc Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, wife of Ekiti State Governor, Bisi, apc national leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, retired Major-General Muhammed Buhari, at apc mega rally in Ado-Ekiti, recently. Photo: NAN
In line with its corporate policy to build capacity of Niger Delta youth to enable them bridge the manpower gap in the oil and gas industry, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has spent about $3million (approximately N487.2million) in three years to empower 30 Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers students with post-graduate degrees in geosciences and engineering disciplines from three top universities in the United Kingdom.
The universities are Imperial College, London, University College, London, and University of Leeds while
the 30 students are products of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 batches of the ingenous scholarship initiative.
Speaking at the grand reception for the third batch of 10 scholars of the Niger Delta Overseas Post-
Graduate Scholarship scheme in his residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said that the fourth batch of another 10 students were about to round up their programme while approval is underway for the fifth batch of 10 to commence their studies in September, 2014.
Sunmonu said that the scheme was initiated “because we recognised that Nigerian university graduates in our core operating areas needed to have a competitive advantage to be considered for key leadership opportunities in the oil and gas industry anywhere” in the world.
The managing director, who is also the country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), noted that the all-expenses paid scheme was designed to ensure that the focus of the students is fuuly on their studies, saying that “we decided to get you fully involved and equipped with a first class education because we believe that this is the exposure you need to confidently play on any stage. We have no doubt that you, the next generation of oil and gas professionals, will make a difference in the industry.”
He stated that the transparency, rigorous and auditable merit-based selection process was designed to engender premium academic competition and performance amongst the very best university graduates
from the three states in the region, adding that in order to further enrich the scheme’s content, an internship project for scholars from Imperial College to undertake specific research studies on SCiN assets has commenced since 2013.
Sunmonu explained that apart from the Niger Delta Overseas Post-Graduate Scholarship, the company has also invested significantly in human capital development by facilitating access to education at all levels, stressing that “in 2013, the sum of $7million was spent on scholarship programmes for 1,795 secondary and 850 university students.
“Some Niger Delta youths were also trained in business management and entrepreneurship development under the SPDC JV LiveWIRE programme. This is in addition to our support for science fairs and full sponsorship ofthe national science quiz competition”, Sunmonu said.
According to him, “Nigeria is the largest recipient of social investment spending by the Shell Group globally. We are happy that our investments in formal and informal education represent one of the biggest corporate social responsibility portfolios operated by any private company in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
In his remarks, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Igo Weli, emphasised that the scheme has enabled Shell train high-level professionals for leadership positions in the oil and gas industry, saying that with 30 beneficiaries already contributing to the efficiency and productive capacity of the industry, the region would soon begin to dominate top leadership and drive the industry of the future.
Represented at the event by Camillus Umoh, the NCD general manager said that the performance of the 30 graduates of the scheme since its inception in 2010 has justified the huge investment in building the capacity of Niger Delta youths to take up leadership roles in the industry and play their parts in community, state and national development, noting that the scheme has in no small measure added another impetus to Shell’s local content development profile.
In their goodwill messages, General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Nedo Osayande, and NGO and Reputation Manager, Dr Alice Ajie, said Shell’s long-standing education policy has continued to add value to the skilled manpower base of the region in particular and Nigeria in general, noting especially the impact of the Shell Summer School programme in improving knowledge in engineering and geosciences fields for the benefit of the national’s academic institutions, the people and the industry.
They urged the beneficiaries to form a network of scholars of the overseas post-graduate scheme, and also plug into the Shell Scholars Forum to enable them harness the abundant potential in interacting more closely with the different units of the large family of the leading international oil and gas company.
Also speaking, General Manager, Human Resources, Charles Gbandi, said Shell has concluded plans for early monitoring and evaluation of all scholars under the scheme with a view to ensuring that their very best are recruited to join the company’s workforce, saying that Shell would from 2015 have the first choice of refusal of employment from the beneficiaries.
He said that the policy would allow Shell conclude its recruitment interviews and processes with the scholars while they are still undertaking their studies, explaining that the new policy would avail Shell the opportunity to benefit from its investment in quality geosciences and engineering education in the region.
In their various testimonials, seven of the scholars noted the first class, top quality, highly intensive and competitive academic climate they were exposed to in just one year, and commended Shell for giving them the rare privilege to acquire Master’s Degrees from three of the top universities in the world.
The scholars, who said that without Shell, their dream of acquiring post-graduate degrees from one of the best universities in the world would not have been possible, expressed their desire to work for Shell to enable them contribute to the industry and national development.
Present at the reception were Diakparomre Ufuoma Azubuike (Delta), Dambani Samuel Legborsi (Rivers), Duvbiama Omolara Atarhe (Delta), Samuel Revelation Jacob (Bayelsa), Adebeli Onyemaechi Hillary (Delta), Ogbilikana Joseph Sampson (Rivers), and Emmanuel Joseph Coo key (Rivers), while Mogbolu Peter Odafe (Delta), Ojameruaye Ogheneovo Christine (Delta) and Enebeli Paul Chukwudi (Delta) sent their regrets.
Nelson Chukwudi
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
