Not Fewer Than 943 First Class Graduates Compete For Presidential Scholarships

 

                      Not fewer than 943 first class graduates from different universities in the country have competed, through examination, for just 100 slots of the Presidential Special Scholarship for Innovation and Development (PRESSID) in Abuja.
                        The examination was coordinated by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which took place on Monday in Abuja at Chams City Examination Centre.
The scholarship, initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan started three years ago, to train experts on the areas the nation is lacking behind, especially science and technology.                    
Professor Olurotimi Tayo, a member of the PRESSID Implementation Committee, who supervised the examination, disclosed that 943 first class graduates, who were screened from over 2000 applicants, applied for the aptitude test and sat for it on Monday.
He said only 100 candidates who passed the exam would benefit from the special scholarship scheme, which would take them to 25 best universities across the world for Masters Degree programme.
“We screened those who applied and invited 943 students for the aptitude test. People applied online but you can be sure that by the time we invited 943 students, then those who applied were more than 2000.
“The idea is to train critical mass of people who would be able to innovate and develop the economy of Nigeria,” he said.
Mr. Joshua Attah, the coordinator of the examination, stated that, the examination took place concurrently in London and some hours later in Washington DC, United States of America (USA).
He noted that the scholarship was based on merit regardless of where the beneficiaries come from.
“The country is looking at those critical areas that will add values to the transformation agenda and the vision of the government especially those areas we have deficiency in the numbers of people who would drive or work in different sectors that government is interested in developing.
“The consideration for the examination is merit. Irrespective of where you come from as long as you are qualified, you will be invited to write the examination and the result of the examination will determine the beneficiaries of the scheme.
“This is a special scholarship initiated by the President and the only consideration is merit. For this, it is a special scheme; for you to participate, you must be a first class material,” he said.