To increase human capital asset base in the oil and gas industry, Shell Joint Venture (JV) has sent another 13 geo-scientists and others in related field to the United Kingdom on international post-graduate studies, now totalling 92. The beneficiaries include 10 men and three women from four states of the Niger Delta.
Flagging off the beneficiaries at the Shell Industrial Area in Port Harcourt, Igo Weli, general manager, external relations of Shell, who spoke through the Social Investment Manager, Gloria Udoh, said the effort was due to a lack of world-class research institutions and limited access to technology, which are key challenges in enabling Nigerians and Nigerian companies play an even greater role in the oil and gas value chain.
The SPDC JV over the years developed many scholarship programmes and other initiatives as part of the company’s continuing efforts to develop indigenous manpower for the oil and gas industry.
Weli explained that the scheme was targeted at host communities, saying, “We have the national scholarship which caters for the entire country in addition to the scholarships offered by our deepwater business, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.”
According to Weli, the fully-funded scholarship covers “all the direct and indirect activities leading up to the award of the postgraduate degree including visa fees, tuition, living expenses, other allowances and return flight tickets for a one-year Master’s degree in top-ranked partner universities.”
On her part, Udoh said the oil firm desired to deepen the human capital base of the industry, saying since 2010, the company had sent 10 graduates each year until it was increased to 13 in 2019.
Rivers State has the highest number (five) while Imo has only one, a female. Udoh urged the beneficiaries to work as hard as possible, saying the company sent them to bring a Master of Science degree and nothing less.
She advised them to follow the right path and ensure they did not fall to distractions that would make them not graduate. The manager made it clear that what was in front of the scholars was to study hard and graduate well in the UK.
She noted that they were lucky because many more desired to get the scholarships, saying the terms and conditions of the scholarship offer were enshrined in their award letters.
Shell lined up experts, motivational speakers and former participants of the scheme to enlighten the beneficiaries and prepare them for the tasks ahead and life in the UK. Some of the students admitted in interviews that the raw experience appeared scary but said they would rather brave up and face the challenges.
Shell said the event was meant to showcase the company’s footprints in the education sector of the Nigeria socio-economic landscape. An official, who introduced the scheme, said several schemes abound in Shell that promote education.
“Shell has a long history of supporting education in Nigeria through scholarships from secondary to university and post graduate levels”.
The company said this is to produce industry-ready graduates for the oil and gas economy. The beneficiaries are not only to work in Shell as some work in other multinational corporations.
