SPDC Presents Award to NNPC/Shell CUP 2011 Champions, GSS Owerri

Having also lifted the Championship in 2010, this is the first time in the 13-year history of NNPC/Shell Cup, that one school has won the trophy in two consecutive years.

A cheque for N2.5m was presented to GSS Owerri for the development of sports. The 20 students from the school, who took part in the championship, had received their prize money of N50,000 shortly after the finals in April 2011.

“Our vision of promoting sports and education by discovering and supporting the nurturing of young talented football players in Nigerian secondary schools is being achieved,” said Sola Abulu; Head Major Projects Public Relations and Brand Communications. “This would not have been possible without the support of key stakeholders including NNPC, Nigerian Schools Sports Federation as well as Federal and State Ministries of Sports and Education.”

The Principal of GSS Owerri, Mr. Raph Obiyo, commended the NNPC/Shell Joint venture for the competition which he said has given sports development in the school a new lease of life. He said, "with the prize money won last year, we can now boast of a-state-of-the-art sports equipment in football, basketball and other sports.”    

The NNPC/Shell Cup is the biggest youth football championship in Nigeria, offering secondary school students the opportunity to develop their soccer talents while continuing their education. The annual championship is one of several education support interventions by SPDC Joint Venture. Every year, the company awards about 2,730 secondary school and 850 university scholarships to deserving students from the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria. At any one time, SPDC scholarships support some 13,650 secondary school and 3,400 university students in the country.