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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
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.