Chevron scholarship scheme has produced University of Lagos best graduating student and 31 other first class out of the 231 first class graduates produce by the university during the 2015/2016 convocation ceremony where a total of 12,617 receive degrees, diplomas and certificates.
The Agbami Medical and Engineering Professional Scholarship is a merit based scheme which commenced in 2009 and administered by Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, a Chevron Company and its co-venturers in the Agbami field, Famfa Oil Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Statoil Nigeria Limited and Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited.
Speaking at a ceremony for the beneficiaries at the, convocation ceremony, Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Lagos, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sam Otuonye said Agbami scholarship programme is part of the company’s efforts to provide needed manpower in the areas of engineering and medicine for the development of Nigeria.
Disclosing that over N7 billion has been spent on the scholarship since inception, Otuonye said in 2015/2016 session under the scheme, no fewer than 320 of the beneficiaries made first class, 497 second class upper and 1729 second class lower across the country.
Speaking with NHO at the ceremony, University of Lagos best student for the 2015/2016 session and a beneficiary of Agbami scholarship, Miss Oyindamola Omotuyi who graduated with perfect score of CGPA of 5.00 from the department of Systems Engineering said the scheme helped to ease the burden off her parents.
On how she was able to maintain her grade for five years, the 21 year old graduate said it was through wisdom from God who also provided the strenght for her efforts throughout her stay in the university.
“Its not that I actually read more than my classmates but I will say it’s been grace all through. And I have good classmates whose words of encouragement helped me.”
On her future endeavour, the elated Oyindamola told NHO that she will proceed for her masters to be able to specialise in a course because the course is broad at the undergraduate level.
Thanking Chevron for the support, she advised undergraduates to look our for scholarships, which she said are every where, to be able to achieve their dreams.
Apart from the Agbami scholarship scheme, NNPC/Chevron joint venture also provides other scholarship programme.
One of the beneficiary of NNPC/Chevron, Victor Chineke, a first class graduate from department of Chemical Engineering was full of praises for the company for coming to his rescue when his father had financial issue and he almost couldn’t continue his programme.
“I am grateful to Chevron Nigeria Limited for their assistance, I needed some amount of money in getting some materials I needed for my project and they were able to provide it for me.
On how he was able to maintain his CGPA to sustain the scholarship, he said “when you have the kind of mind set that you have a prestigious company like Chevron supporting you, the company that is looking at a great future for you, then you will have the zeal to keep achieving, to keep up moving.”
The Agbani Field is located approximately 70 miles offshore Nigeria and in line with the Deep offshore community affairs group engagement principles, co venturers view the entire country of Nigeria as Agbami community.
Agbami partners has institutionalised the spirit of partnerships for community-driven development and human capacity building for health and educational institutions in Nigeria.