The management of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, operators of the OML 30 Joint Ventures this Saturday conducted a tertiary scholarship selection test for over 300 shortlisted candidates drawn from 112 Host Communities.
The examination conducted at the College of Education, Warri in collaboration with the West African Examination Council is part of the process to select about 186 beneficiaries of the HEOSL 2022/2023 university scholarship programme.
According to HEOSL’s General Manager, Government, Joint Venture and External Relations, Adesola Adebawo, “the scholarship selection process is highly competitive, fair and transparent which is why an experienced independent examination management body such as WAEC is coordinating it. The idea is to ensure that only the best candidates are selected from the beneficiary communities”. He added that an estimated total number of 800 scholars will benefit from this yearly scholarship programme in both the secondary and university categories.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of HEOSL, Ado Oseragbaje said that the scholarship programme is one of the cardinal stream in the OML 30 JV partnership’s support for education as part of the strategic enhancement of human capital development in the communities neighbouring the asset as well as in Delta State in General”. The CEO commended the Host communities for their positive response to the process while enjoining them to continue to provide a peaceful and enabling environment for the company as “this type of partnership brings progress to all stakeholders”
Addressing the students shortly before the kick off of the test, Sylvester Oko, Head, Community Relations and Security of HEOSL, said the Company was passionate about their educational growth and encouraged them to be serious in their academic pursuit as those scholars who excel stand a chance of being employed in the company after graduation. He charged them to remain focus because according to him, “education is a sure pathway to success in life.”
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Mr Oko disclosed that the students taking the exam are those currently at 200 level in recognized tertiary institutions and must also be from a host community within the OML 30.
Speaking to reporters at the venue of the Examination, Mrs Mercy Ajiroghene Awhorieyome a parent of one of the students, said that, as a widow, the scholarship was a welcomed relief. She stated that education these days is quite expensive and any intervention is a great relief.
Other parents who spoke appreciated the company but appealed that the amount of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) per session should be increased in tune with the realities of the times. Ujeya Elohor and Aforkoghene Prisca from Ekugbo-Ughelli and Ekpan Communities respectively who sat for the examination all applauded Heritage Energy for the programme which they said will enhance their studies and also relieve the parents of some burden.
Each of the successful candidates is expected to be paid the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150, 000) every session throughout their study.
It could be recalled that in August this year, beneficiaries of the secondary school version were selected from the host communities.
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