The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has officially commenced the oral interview phase for more than 1,050 candidates participating in its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. This interview process, spanning eleven days, is dedicated to candidates who demonstrated success in a Computer-Based Test taken by 5,000 applicants earlier this month.
Addressing the candidates at the interview venue in Port Harcourt, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of NDDC, accompanied by Alabo Boma Iyaye (Executive Director Finance and Administration), Sir Victor Antai (Executive Director Projects), and Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (Executive Director Corporate Services), emphasized the guiding principles of equity, fairness, and transparency in the interview process.
Dr. Ogbuku stated, “The selection process will be entirely based on merit. Our presence here is to show support for the ongoing process and ensure that it adheres to the principles we’ve set. We believe that the most qualified candidates will be chosen as they will represent our country as worthy ambassadors.”
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Responding to inquiries about the limited number of scholarship beneficiaries, the Managing Director cited funding challenges. He explained, “We increased the study allowance from thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) to forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00), impacting our finances. To strike a balance, we plan to reduce the number of foreign scholarships next year due to the high foreign exchange rate. However, we will introduce scholarships for undergraduate students in Nigerian universities to accommodate more individuals in the program.”
Guiding the NDDC Executive Management through the interview process, Dr. George Uzonwanne, the Commission’s Director for Education, Health, and Social Services, expressed confidence that the transparent selection process for the foreign scholarship scheme would consistently produce high-achieving scholars. The interview panel, assembled by the program’s consultant, comprises experts from various disciplines across universities in the Niger Delta region.
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Providing additional insights, Mrs. Idara Akpabio, the NDDC Deputy Director of Education, clarified that the scholarship program covers a range of disciplines, including engineering (Biomedical, Software, Marine, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic, and Robotic Engineering), Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Math/Sciences, Medical Sciences, Hospitality Management, Law, Architecture, and Environmental Science.
One of the interviewed candidates, Mr. Andy Imabibo, commended NDDC for providing Niger Delta youths with the opportunity for a globally enriching educational experience. He praised the scholarship selection process as robust and encouraging. Another prospective scholar, Miss Kio Belema Iyala, described the preceding examination as seamless, expressing her commitment to applying the acquired knowledge for the development and progress of her community and the Niger Delta region.
