Ovia donates N16million for NCS scholarships

Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, has supported the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) scholarship programme with N16 million.

Ovia, who made this pledge in November 2015, at the yearly National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), of the NCS in Lagos, also promised job opportunities in Zenith Bank Plc and Cyber Space Ltd, to whosoever graduated with second-class upper division in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which is to be done yearly.

The NCS scholarship scheme is one of the corporate responsibilities geared towards mentoring and monitoring Nigeria youths for ICT sustainability. The programme started four years ag,o and NCS has been yearly awarding scholarship to discerning students across the country base on some established criteria.

As announced by Ovia, a Fellow of the NCS, the scholarship will be awarded to five Phd students, 10 Masters Degree students and 20 Under Graduate students across all categories of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, covering universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide and students pursuing relevant courses outside the country.

According to the President of NCS, Prof. Sola Aderounmu, at the weekend, Ovia has empowered the Society with the fund, which will be given to all candidates in November this year, during the NITMA awards.

Aderounmu said the Zenith Bank founder would be at the event to physically present the cheques to the beneficiaries.

According to him, the National Executive Council of NCS, sincerely appreciated what he described as, uncommon gesture, and prayed that the Almighty God will continue to uphold the benefactor, Jim Ovia.

The Zenith Bank boss had said that Jim Ovia ICT Foundation would continue to support youth engagement in ICT, adding that he will continue to invest in untapped potential of the Nigerian youths, whom, he believed have the capacity to compete globally if given the opportunity.

“We support the use of ICT whenever and wherever possible to enhance the standard of living of the society and increase human efficiency. Our long-term goal is to put ICT into our education policy ensuring progressive and continuous learning.