By DESMOND EJIBAS

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has commenced oral interviews for 1,050 candidates seeking for its foreign post-graduate scholarship programme.

The Managing Director of the commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said this at the launch of the programme on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

Ogbuku said that the interview would last for over 11 days.

He said the interviewees passed the computer-based test written by no fewer than 5,000 applicants a fortnight ago.

“The interview is going to be done based on merit, and this is the reason we came to monitor the process, to show our support to what is going on.

“We believe that the best scholars will be selected among the 1,050 candidates, who will then be sent out to represent our country.

“The interview panel was randomly selected to ensure fairness because the 200 scholars to be selected will be our ambassadors,” he said.

Ogbuku said the commission had not increased the number of beneficiaries of the scholarship due to funding challenge.

“We increased the allowance for the studies from 30,000 U.S. Dollars (N24.55 million) to 40,000 U.S. Dollars (N32.73 million), and this affected our finances, making it necessary for us to create a balance.

“However, from 2024, we hope to reduce the number because of the high foreign exchange rate, while introducing scholarships for undergraduate students in Nigerian universities.

“The introduction of scholarships in our universities will enable us to accommodate more persons in our scholarship programme,” he said.

Also, the Director for Education, Health and Social Services, NDDC, Dr George Uzonwanne, said the interview process followed international best practices to produce the best scholars.

Uzonwanne said the interview panellists were assembled from different disciplines in universities across the Niger Delta.

The NDDC Deputy Director, Education, Mrs Idara Akpabio, said the scholarship covered disciplines in engineering, including biomedical, software, marine, mechanical, electrical/electronic, and robotic.

“Others are information technology, artificial intelligence, mathematics and sciences, medical sciences, hospitality management, law, architecture and environmental science,” Akpabio said.

One of interviewees, Andy Imabibo, described the selection process as transparent and commended the commission for giving them the opportunity to study abroad.

Another participant, Miss Kio Iyala, said the examination preceding the interview was hitch-free.

“The timing of the examination was accurate, while the entire process was smooth.

“One week after the computer-based test, I got a message to come for this interview today.

“I hope to be selected among the final 200 scholars,” Iyala said. (NAN)

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