[Nigeria] NNPC, Shell Award Scholarship to 110 Students

In furtherance of its commitment to providing quality education for indigent students within the country, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) have awarded scholarship to 110 secondary school students.

Speaking during the Cradle-to-Career scholarship ceremony in Abuja, the General Manager External Relations, Shell, Igo Weli, said: "I am particularly happy that, in spite of the low oil price in the global market and the economic challenges in the country, SNEPCo and its concessionaire, the NNPC and co-venturers, Esso Exploration and Production Company (Deepwater Ltd), Total E & P Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd - ENI, have kept faith with our commitment to support Nigerian youths to attend some of the best secondary schools in the country. We do this because education is key to national development; it is the answer to today's challenges and an anchor for a better and brighter future."

The beneficiaries and their parents described the Cradle-to-Career scholarship as a lifetime chance to better their lot, and commended NNPC and SNEPCo for the opportunity. SNEPCo launched the National Cradle-to-Career programme in 2014 to help bridge educational inequalities resulting from geographic and socio-economic differences.

The endeavour contributes towards the realisation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 'Education for All' goal.

According to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abimbola Olamilokun, charged other corporate bodies to emulate the gesture, even as he commended the cradle-to-career programme as a unique Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) initiative.

On his part, The Director of Quality Assurance in the National Examinations Council (NECO) Dr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu said: "We played an active role in the selection process and we can attest that it was fair and transparent. The students who have come through represent the best of what we had from public secondary schools and we see them transforming to become leaders if they keep up with same spirit of hard work and commitment.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries have begun their studies in six schools within the country, which includes: Premiere Academy, Abuja; Nigerian Turkish International College, Kaduna; St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Lagos; Lead Forte Gate College, Lagos; Top Faith International Secondary School, Akwa Ibom Staten and Grundtvig International Secondary School, Anambra State.

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