The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has announced the selection of 60 pupils from the Niger Delta region for its annual secondary school scholarship, as part of efforts to promote access to quality education.

It said the pupils were drawn from various public primary schools in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States and had successfully completed an orientation programme in three selected private secondary schools.

Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said the programme was aimed at providing quality secondary education to brilliant students from rural communities in the company’s areas of operation.

Sunmonu, who disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the orientation programme tagged‘NNPC/Shell-JV 2012 Cradle to Career Secondary School Scholarship’, said the company is proud of the scheme, which was in its third year with a total of 180 beneficiaries.

Represented by the General Manager, Sustainable Development, Mr. Bola Onolakpo, he said: “The scheme is designed to bridge educational inequalities, promote access to quality education and enhance high literacy in the Niger Delta region. Our belief is that the scheme will also help develop a sound human resource base for future employment.”

He said the scheme would contribute significantly to attaining the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals on education in the Niger Delta, adding that it was showcased at the July 2011 UN Innovations Fair in Geneva, Switzerland and was recognised as a landmark initiative by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon. While congratulating the beneficiaries, Sunmonu commended the management and staff of the three schools for their commitment to “developing the lives of these young students.”

Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Alice Lawrence-Nemi, who commended the company for the initiative, said the state government has a similar policy.