50 Akwa Ibom students get scholarships

Head of Stakeholder Relations and Regional Manager, South East, Savannah Energy Nigeria Nkoyo Etuk; Managing Director of the outfit, Pade Durotoye, a scholarship beneficiary and student of University of Uyo, Gift Monday Kiddy, and others during the presentation of the scholarship awards … recently

Accugas Limited, the midstream subsidiary of Savannah Energy Plc, a British energy company, has announced award of scholarships to 50 students from Akwa Ibom State.

The award, part of the Savannah Energy Education and Internship Training (SEE-IT) programme, covers full tuition, accommodation, textbook and living costs for the duration of the beneficiaries’ university education in Nigeria.

The SEE-IT programme is a collaboration between Accugas and the Inoyo Toro Foundation, a non-profit educational foundation based in Akwa Ibom State, enhancing teacher quality, and access to quality education in Akwa Ibom State.

The 50 students, selected through a rigorous screening process led by university professors, were presented with the scholarships during the SEE-IT 2023 Annual Teachers/Scholarship Awards in Uyo, recently.

At the event, awards were also presented to 19 secondary school teachers, three principals and five mentors of secondary school teachers, who had impacted their pupils in the state public secondary schools. The awards cover five subjects namely, Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics and Physics.

The Managing Director of Savannah Energy Plc, Nigeria, Pade Durotoye, at the award ceremony, said: “Education is an important part of Savannah’s sustainability strategy, where our first pillar focuses on promoting socio-economic prosperity within the countries in which we operate. As a company, we have invested over US$1bn in Nigeria, especially in the South East, to deliver projects that matter. We are delighted and proud to be able to impact so many lives, and I am particularly pleased that we are offering full university education scholarships to the 50 students until they graduate.

“We plan to add more students to the SEE-IT scholarship programme every year as we see this as an important investment in one of our country’s greatest future resources, the young people around us. What we are hoping to do, in partnership with the Inoyo Toro Foundation, is to support our society to deliver excellence in education, accessible not only to those who can afford the high fees in private institutions, but also to those in our public schools.”

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, said: “This event has become a reference point in our public-private partnership arrangements in the education sector of the state. It has registered impressive records since its inception, particularly in areas of scholarship awards to these loving students and the recognition of the immense contributions of hard-working teachers and principals of public secondary schools in the state. Your demonstration to launch a fully funded scholarship award to accommodate 50 students of Akwa Ibom State origin, admitted into public or private universities in Nigeria, as well as a conferment of excellence awards on teachers who excelled in the teaching of Biology, Chemistry, English Language, Mathematics and Physics, deserves commendation.”