Niger Delta students besiege Rivers varsity over Eroton aptitude test

Hundreds of Niger Delta students from both secondary and tertiary institutions laid siege at Rivers State University over test for scholarship slots opened by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) alongside Exploration and Production Company Limited joint venture. Despite selecting over 300 students for the scholarship test, hundreds of students locked outside the gate were seen pleading to allow them in to partake in the test to relieve their parents of the burden of tuition.

The Guardian gathered that the successful students were selected after an intensive screening. It was learnt that the firm also notified the host communities about the scheme to enable parents who are faced with the burden of providing quality education for their wards take advantage of the opportunity. 

The scholarship is billed for the 2019/2020 academic session and it covers brilliant scholars from the Niger Delta host communities.The gesture was aimed at curbing youth restiveness in the region and make them become useful to the society.

Some of the students who spoke with The Guardian at the venue of the scholarship examination expressed hope that their expectations of smooth schooling would come through with the help of the scheme.

One of the candidates in junior primary, Florence Israel from Saint Gabriel State School in Krakrama said if selected, she is ready to face further challenges in the scheme to enable her sail smoothly through school.

A teacher from Comprehensive College in Abalama, Bobmanuel David, described the process of selection as transparent, adding that the community is happy to be a host to Eroton. Another student, Sandra Ginis-Harry, from Federal University in Otueke, Bayelsa State, said the questions were tough but was determined to come out victorious.