In a move to tackle educational inequality in Nigeria’s oil-producing communities, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Heirs Energies Joint Venture (JV), through the OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), has launched a university scholarship scheme aimed at closing the education gap in the Niger Delta.

The scheme, known as the OML 17 University Scholarship Programme (USP), will provide financial and educational support to 300 first-year students drawn from 73 host communities under the OML 17 asset, one of the country’s major onshore oil blocks.

The new scholarship, one of the largest launched under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), seeks to bridge this long-standing gap by funding students enrolled in federal and state-owned universities nationwide.

Applications for the scholarship will open on July 21, 2025, and will be followed by an online testing and screening process. Final selection and announcement of the 300 beneficiaries are scheduled for September 2025, in line with the new academic session.

Speaking at the launch, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Samuel Amaechi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, OML 17 HCDT, said: “The launch of the OML 17 USP marks a new chapter in our efforts to uplift the youth in our host communities. We are proud to roll out a transparent, merit-based scholarship that will provide real access to education for those who need it most. This is not just a scholarship; it is a pathway to a better future.”

Also commenting, Osa Igiehon, CEO of Heirs Energies Limited, said: “Education is the foundation of progress, and by empowering young people with access to learning, we are building stronger, more resilient communities. At Heirs Energies, we believe that shared prosperity begins with shared opportunity.”

Eligible candidates can apply via Heirs Energies website, with full details to be shared online and through local notice boards, flyers and grassroots channels.

The OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust remains the largest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, committed to driving sustainable development and economic empowerment under the PIA 2021.