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The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pre­sented award letters to 600 successful candidates for its 2025/2026 Local Post Graduate Scholarship Programme

Presenting the scholarship letters to the successful can­didates during the award cer­emony in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated that the scholarship programme was an initiative designed to enhance human capital development in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, who was support­ed 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, urged the awardees to be good ambassadors of the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer described the scholar­ship scheme as an essential component of the NDDC’s hu­man capital development pro­gramme, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

He observed that previous beneficiaries of the scholarship programme set enviable stan­dards for subsequent groups, stating: “It is remarkable that 32 of our scholars graduated with distinction in Coventry University this year.”

Ogbuku advised the NDDC scholars to avoid distractions to excel in their studies, re­minding them that they owed the Niger Delta a duty to suc­ceed.

He declared: “You are the torchbearers of transforma­tion. Your education is not just for you 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 is a step towards transforming our communi­ties.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr George Uzowanne, disclosed that out of 46,240 applicants, only 600 were selected through a transparent electronic examination process. He said, “I congratulate the suc­cessful candidates who applied and went through a seamless selection process.”

Uzonwanne, stated that the process of selecting the candi­dates was transparent, noting that competition for the Schol­arship programme was intense and fair.

He stated: “Through ini­tiatives like the NDDC Local Scholarship Programme, we are investing in the minds that will shape the Niger Delta’s tomor­row. 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.”

The NDDC Director of Edu­cation, Dr Angela Chukwudifu, observed that the new scholar­ship programme emphasised on local education to ensure that beneficiaries remained connected to the Niger Delta’s challenges and opportunities, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

She stated: “Through ini­tiatives like the NDDC Local Scholarship Programme, we are investing in the minds that will shape the Niger Delta’s tomor­row. 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.”

The best performing schol­arship candidate, Mr. Regi­nald Omubo-Pepple, thanked the NDDC for giving them the opportunity to enhance their education. He pledged that the beneficiaries would do their best to be good ambassadors for the region and subsequently contribute to the development of the Niger Delta.