NDDC Awards Scholarships To 600 Niger Delta Students For Postgraduate Studies

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has awarded scholarship letters to 600 deserving candidates for its 2025/2026 Local Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. The awards were presented at a ceremony held in Port Harcourt, underscoring the NDDC’s commitment to developing human capital within the Niger Delta region.

NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, presented the letters and emphasised that the scholarship program is designed to empower the region’s youth through education. He urged the recipients to be exemplary ambassadors for the Niger Delta during their studies.

“You are the torchbearers of transformation,” Dr. Ogbuku stated. “Your education is not just for yourselves but for the millions who look up to you for hope. As you pursue your postgraduate studies, remember that every lecture you attend, every paper you write, and every solution you provide contributes to transforming our communities.”

Dr. Ogbuku, joined by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, the Representative of Bayelsa State on the NDDC Board, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of the Commission, also highlighted the impressive track record of previous scholarship recipients, noting that 32 NDDC scholars graduated with distinction from Coventry University this year. He advised the new scholars to avoid distractions and focus on their studies, reminding them of their responsibility to succeed for the betterment of the Niger Delta.

According to Dr. George Uzowanne, the NDDC Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, the selection process was rigorous and transparent. Out of 46,240 applicants, only 600 were selected through an electronic examination.

“I congratulate the successful candidates who applied and successfully navigated a seamless selection process,” Dr. Uzowanne stated. He further emphasised the intense competition for the scholarships and the fairness of the selection process.

Dr. Angela Chukwudifu, the NDDC Director of Education, highlighted the program’s focus on local education. This approach aims to ensure that beneficiaries remain connected to the challenges and opportunities within the Niger Delta, fostering a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility.

“Through initiatives like the NDDC Local Scholarship Programme, we are investing in the minds that will shape the Niger Delta’s tomorrow,” Dr. Chukwudifu said. “By equipping our youth with advanced knowledge in fields like engineering, environmental sciences, technology, humanities, and management sciences, we empower them to tackle our region’s unique challenges.”

Mr. Reginald Omubo-Pepple, the top-performing scholarship candidate, expressed his gratitude to the NDDC for providing this opportunity and pledged that the beneficiaries would strive to be positive representatives of the region and contribute to its future development.