Five years after the launch of the Cradle-To-Career scholarship scheme in 2010 for hard-to-reach but brilliant children in remote public primary schools in the Niger Delta states, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), has now increased the number of beneficiaries of the special education development programme in three core pilot states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, to 360 indigent pupils.
Inducting 60 new beneficiaries into the fully funded secondary school scholarship scheme at Brookstone Secondary School, Rukpokwu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, the company said that the pupils, who come from public primary schools in typically hard-to-access Niger Delta communities, have been enrolled into four of the best secondary schools in the country for quality education.
The pupils, who passed required tests to undertake rigorous secondary education at Jephthah Comprehensive College, Brookstone Secondary School, Bloombreed High School, and Archdeacon Brown Education Centre, all in Port Harcourt, were admitted after a painstaking and transparent academic selection process conducted under the strict supervision of the various stakeholders, including the state Ministries of Education.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Osagie Okunbor, assured the 60 pupils that the company would fund their educational career up till university level, if they maintained top-of-the-class academic records, adding that this was one of the many pillars upon which Shell’s education support initiatives hinge.
Represented by the General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, the managing director, stressed that, “The C2C approach marks a significant improvement in our portfolio of scholarship schemes,” pointing out that, “It is designed to bridge educational inequalities resulting from geographic and socio-economic differences.”
“SPDC and its joint venture partners are proud of the achievements of the scheme, which is in line with UNESCO’s ‘Education for All’ goal, has received local and international accolades,” he stated.
He added that, “SCiN have a long history of supporting education through scholarships and other initiatives with about 1,080 secondary school and 850 tertiary schlarships annually”, emphasising that, “In 2014 alone, the SPDC joint venture and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), invested some $14.8 million in scholarships and other education programmes.”
In his remarks on behalf of the Rivers State Government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Michael West, commended SPDC and its joint venture partners for the life-transforming programme, and charged other private companies to emulate the example.
According to him, “Any organisation that invests in educational development is to be commended. With programmes like this, I believe we can take education to a new height.”
In their goodwill messages, representatives of Bayelsa and Delta State governments, lauded the company for complimenting the efforts of government in promoting quality education and building capacity to bridge the yawning gap in human capital development in the catchment states, and challenged other multinational oil and gas companies to emulate the Shell initiative in improving education in the Niger Delta.
In an interview, a guardian to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Maureen Benstowe, said: “The C2C scholarship scheme is definitely transforming lives. I have been carrying the burden of educating my ward alone until I heard about this programme. Today, SPDC has lifted my burden and wiped away my tears.”
Another parent, Mrs Anne Ajayi, said: “I’m so grateful to SPDC for this rare opportunity. The expensive school my child is today, I ordinarily would not have been  able to afford it. I see my dream and that of my child become reality because of the wisdom of this company.”
A beneficiary, Yamiye Godstime, said, “SPDC has made my dream of becoming an engineer possible, and I hope to graduate and play my role in contributing to the development of my community, the nation and humanity.”