PORT HARCOURT — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has conducted a Computer-Based Test for 6,200 applicants vying for its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, in a major step toward advancing human capital development in the Niger Delta region.
The exercise, which brought together thousands of shortlisted candidates, is part of the commission’s structured selection process aimed at ensuring transparency, merit, and fairness in awarding overseas academic scholarships.
Officials explained that the CBT assessment was designed to evaluate applicants’ academic readiness, critical thinking abilities, and suitability for advanced studies in foreign universities under the scholarship scheme.
The Foreign Scholarship Programme remains one of the NDDC’s flagship interventions, targeting the training of young professionals in specialised fields that are critical to regional and national development.
Areas covered by the programme typically include engineering, medical sciences, environmental studies, information technology, and other disciplines aligned with development priorities in the Niger Delta.
The commission has consistently emphasised that the initiative is part of its broader mandate to build capacity, reduce unemployment, and equip youths with global-level skills that can be applied to local challenges.
Participants in the CBT exercise were drawn from across the Niger Delta states, reflecting wide interest in the programme and the high level of competition for available scholarship slots.
NDDC officials monitored the examination process to ensure strict adherence to examination standards, including identity verification, computer-based testing protocols, and secure evaluation systems.
The commission noted that the CBT format helps eliminate manual processing errors and enhances credibility in the selection process, especially given the large number of applicants.
Successful candidates from the CBT stage are expected to proceed to the next phases of selection, which may include interviews and further screening before final scholarship awards are announced.
The scholarship programme has historically produced graduates who have gone on to contribute in various professional fields both within Nigeria and internationally.
Education stakeholders in the region have described the initiative as a critical investment in youth development, particularly in a region affected by economic and environmental challenges.
However, calls have continued for sustained funding and expansion of the programme to accommodate more applicants, given the high level of demand recorded annually.
As the screening process continues, attention now shifts to the release of results and the final selection of candidates who will benefit from overseas academic training under the NDDC scholarship scheme.
