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400 Students Get SPDC N60m Scholarship
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited says it has awarded scholarships to the best and outstanding 400 university students, totalling N60million to enable them excel in their different fields of academic endeavours.
Speaking at the presentation of the awards for the 2015/2016 academic session at the Port Harcourt Literary Society Library, the SPDC General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli said: “SPDC does not segregate, the scholarship encompasses all fields of endeavours provided you are from the Niger Delta region and very brilliant.”
The Tide correspondent gathered that each student is given N150, 000 per annum, while the scholarship runs between four to six years depending on the course of study.
Weli stated that the SPDC JV university scholarship programme started since 1953 as one of its earliest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSO) initiatives, seven years before Nigeria gained her independence, adding that the initiative has continued to contribute to Nigeria’s human capital development.
The general manager said that SPDC was extremely proud of the success the initiative had recorded, having developed critical manpower for the development of modern Nigeria.
“From those early steps in 1953, what is now known as the NNPC/SPDC JV Scholarship programme has afforded many Nigerians the opportunity to acquire higher education, with many going on to become leaders in their chosen professions,” Weli said.
He stressed that this year’s award was very significant as it shows SPDC’s commitment to contribute to Nigeria’s human capital development despite the low oil price in the global market and the economic challenges in the country which have greatly impacted the funding of oil and gas operations.
Weli added that the company has launched the ‘Scholarship Meet Shell Programme,’ in which the beneficiaries meet and interact with Shell staff on their different chosen professions.
“Today, the SPDC JV runs four scholarship schemes as follows: The Secondary School, which supports over 1,000 students in SPDC’s operational areas in the Niger Delta annually, the Cradle-to-Career, which is an all-inclusive scholarship that provides opportunities and strong foundation for brilliant pupils in public primary schools to attend reputable secondary schools in Nigeria. The scholarship covers tuition and boarding awarded to 60 gifted young people from the Niger Delta annually,” he said.
He added that “the SPDC University Scholarship Scheme comprises two categories namely: the National Merit Award which is open to all Nigerians and the Operational Areas Award which is for undergraduates from our areas of operations in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers States, and finally the Overseas Postgraduate scholarship programme which is awarded to 10 indigenes from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Imo States annually for a Master’s programme in Oil and Gas-related disciplines at three top United Kingdom universities.”
Weli further stated that apart from helping to develop critical manpower, SPDC interventions in the educational sector over the years cover the building of science blocks, donation of science equipment, and establishment of the UNESCO ‘Education for All (EFA)’ goals, thereby ultimately contributing significantly to attaining the Millennium Development Goals on education in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, represented by the Head Unit, Ministry of Education, Mrs Nwamaka Joseph, urged the students to take the opportunity given them by SPDC seriously, and expressed the Rivers State Government’s gratitude to the tremendous contribution SPDC has made in ensuring education for all in the state.
In her remarks, a motivational speaker, Mrs Osasere Esekhaigbe enjoined the beneficiaries to take their academic pursuit seriously, adding that there was need for them to distinguish themselves by having good defendable grades in their courses of study.
Esekhaigbe charged the students not to settle for the SPDC required 2.5 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), but thrive to score 4.5-5.0 CGPA as that was the only way they can compete favourably in the job markets.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a student of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, from Agbere Agbama Community in Bayelsa State, Miss Tonaria Irene Ebilade said she believed the reason why she was given the scholarship was God’s divine favour, even as she said that her academic performance in the West African School Certificate (WAEC), Post UTME and her high CGPA of 3.9 played significant roles in her success story.
Ebilade urged other students and youth to take their academic pursuit seriously, adding that a time would come when they least expected and success would shine in their way.
Also speaking, another beneficiary, John Kingsley said God’s grace, favour and SPDC’s love for academic excellence propelled him to hedge on, and thanked God for the opportunity to carve a niche for himself.
On her part, a mother of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chioma Ndah said she would ever remain grateful to SPDC for taking the burden of paying university tuition and other fees off the family’s shoulders, as she and her husband were already finding it difficult to fend for their six children at the same time.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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.
