By Hector Igbikiowubo
TWELVE youths from Bille   Kingdom in Rivers State have been awarded scholarships to study at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) signed between the community and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).

A statement released by Tony Okonedo, Shell Nigeria’s Corporate Media Relations Manager disclosed that the scholarships were awarded as part of the GMoU implementation,

“Bille awarded primary and post primary scholarships to indigenes within Nigeria, but the programme has now been expanded to include the overseas awards. The 12 candidates were chosen after a selection process that included aptitude tests and interviews. Eleven will study in the US and one in the UK,” the company disclosed.

At a ceremony to mark the students’ send off – and attended by several community leaders and the Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Chieftaincy and Community Affairs – SPDC’s Government and Community Relations Manager, East Theo Wellington, said: “What you have achieved by using the GMoU to fund human capital development marks a turning point in the development of Bille Kingdom.”

Israel Amaye, one of twelve scholarship beneficiaries who will attend the University of East London to pursue a law degree, says he is particularly proud of what his community has been able to achieve.

“The key to the development of the Niger Delta should be the development of its human capital. With proper human capital development, infrastructural development and maintenance will follow. We all appreciate the innovation that the GMoU has brought to our lives.”

The other students awarded scholarships are Anya Fredba, Vincent Job, Iyalla Igani, Larry Benjamin, Nimi Kemuel, Stanley Dappa, Veronica Numesubo, Dumotein Digbani, Dikibujiri Diri, Rita Dein and Tamuno-Ina Temebo. SPDC introduced the GMoU initiative in 2006, whereby the company provides funds to a cluster of communities who plan and implement development programmes and projects within the five-year duration of the agreement. To date, 15 GMoUs have resulted in the implementation of some 115 projects, ranging from human capital development and solar water schemes with treatment facilities to micro-credit schemes, roads, electrification and skills acquisition programmes.

Bille is part of the Degema Cluster 1 GMoU which was signed in March 2007. The cluster has so far completed 15 projects and is currently implementing nine others.