IRDC to visit applicants of scholarship scheme

The Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing/ImpactedCommunities Development Committee, IRDC, has concluded plans to visit schoolsof students who apply for its 2009 – 2010 scholarship scheme to verify theireligibility.

This much was revealed Monday August 15, 2011by Chairman of IRDC Scholarship Committee, Mr. Isaac Dorsu, during day one of a3 series workshops organized for community leaders and eligible candidates ofthe three fields that make up the IRDC to educate them on the accuratetechnicalities of applying for IRDC / Chevron scholarship.

Mr. Dorsu explainedthat the essence of the verification exercise is to track genuine students andpay them as at when due.

Chairman of IRDC,Hon. Omamofe Pirah acknowledged the challenges being faced in theadministration of the scholarship scheme and commended members of the IRDC scholarshipcommittee for its painstaking efforts so far. Hon. Pirah whose message wasdelivered by the IRDC Acting Secretary, Mr. Canaan Ajagbawa, enjoinedparticipants to ensure that they properly educate indigenes of theircommunities of knowledge gained during the workshop so as not to deprive themof the scholarship opportunities.

Public RelationsOfficer of the IRDC, Mr. Steve Jemerigbe who also spoke on behalf of the IRDCChairman, Hon. Omamofe Pirah on Day two of the workshop, expressed delight atthe response of participants.

Chevron’s Senior PARepresentative, National Programmes, Jeroro I.O. in her remark, noted that thecompany discovered it can improve its operations in the area by assisting inproducing quality graduates, hence the decision to introduce variousscholarship schemes. While stressing that any candidate not verified cannot bereplaced, Jeroro noted that apart from the community scholarship, indigenes ofits Oil and Gas Producing/Impacted Communities can still benefit from Chevron’sAgbami scholarship as well as the company’s scholarship for the blind scheme.She disclosed that a new company to administer chevron’s scholarship processhas been contracted.

Representative ofChevron’s GMoU Coordinator, Dan Agbofode, stated that the workshop “is key toCNL because it will get the people educated and enable them take over from theexpatriates”.

The GMoU Team Leadfor Itsekiri RDC, Mrs. Christiana Okhawere revealed that NAPIMS is in theprocess of harmonizing scholarship scheme awarded by multinational companies toassuage perceived imbalance, just as she hinted that 280 students are tobenefit in the 2009 – 2010 scheme.

Mr. Gilbert Oritsemoghoof IRDC Admin department took participants on practical application of thescholarship scheme online.

A representative ofOmadino community, Mr. Vincent Ugbameta in an interview described the workshopas very educative and revealing.  

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