SPDC Joint Venture Inaugurates 2nd Edition of Niger Delta Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme
Jan 17, 2011
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has inaugurated the second edition of its Niger Delta Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme in a continuing effort to develop indigenous manpower for the oil and gas industry.
The courses are Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geoscience, Petroleum Geophysics, Engineering Geology, Exploration Geophysics, Oilfield Corrosion Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering.
Potential beneficiaries must possess a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field of study at the Upper Second Class Level and have confirmed admission for any of the specified courses. The scholarship will cover tuition fees, one return flight from Nigeria to the United Kingdom and a contribution towards living expenses.
As in the pilot edition last year, 10 students from Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states will be sponsored to three British institutions - Imperial College, London, University College, London and University of Leeds for one-year Masters’ programmes.
SPDC’s General Manager Nigerian Content Development, Simbi Wabote said: “We are expecting the first batch of beneficiaries to finish later this year, and feedback from the universities has been very positive. We look forward to their returning home and contributing to the development of the oil and gas industry and their communities.”
The SPDC Joint Venture commenced scholarship awards in the 1960s for programmes in Nigerian and foreign institutions. At any one time, SPDC scholarships support more than 17,000 secondary school and university students. In addition, SPDC runs the Shell Intensive Training programme (SITP) for graduate employees.
Support for education is just one aspect of SPDC’s social investments in the Niger Delta, and these range from small business development, agriculture and education to training, health care, micro credit and capacity building.