The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has conducted Computer-Based Tests for 2,835 candidates out of the over 4,000 that applied for the commission’s Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship Scheme for 2018.
Speaking at the Rivers State University, ICT Centre, venue of the aptitude test, the Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Mr Goshua Okejoto explained that the choice of electronic examination was to enable the commission shortlist the right candidates to be selected for the scholarship scheme.
The NDDC Director stated that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship, which was started in 2010, was meant to equip Niger Delta graduates with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the local content programme of the Federal Government.
A statement by Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, quoted Okejoto as explaining that only candidates who had finished the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and secured admission into foreign universities were eligible to participate in the scholarship award process.
Okejoto said that after the aptitude test, 1,500 candidates would be selected for oral interview. He noted: “The process is very transparent as the candidates see their scores immediately after the test. That is the beauty of the computer-based test.”
According to him, the scholarship programme was designed to encourage excellence and debunk the myth that the Niger Delta was the bedrock of militancy. “The NDDC is using the programme to showcase the best of the Niger Delta and this has been justified by the academic performance of previous beneficiaries,” he said.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana