RCE Greater Yenagoa - 2019

Improving access to post graduate education for the people of Gbarain clan and Gbarantoru community in the Gbarain/Ekpetiama GMoU Cluster Development Area through Scholarship Awards
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Improving access to post graduate education for the people of Gbarain clan and Gbarantoru community in the Gbarain/Ekpetiama GMoU Cluster Development Area through Scholarship Awards
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Yenagoa
Contributing organization(s) : 
1. Prof. Tuemi Tuduo Asuka of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State and also Scholarship Committee of Gbarain/Ekpetiama clan
2. Gbarain/Ekpetiama Cluster Development Board (GE/CDB) having 11 community based organizations called Community Trusts (CTs)
3. Community Inter-Relations and Conciliation Initiative (NGO)
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Prof. Tuemi Tudou Asuka
Organizational Affiliation: 
Niger Delta University (NDU) and Scholarship Committee
Name: 
Chief Kwen Keme-Derekumo
Organizational Affiliation: 
Gbarain/Ekpetiama Cluster Development Board (GE/CDB)
Name: 
Sir Anthony Wakwe Lawrence
Organizational Affiliation: 
Community Inter-Relations and Conciliation Initiative (CIRCI)
Format of project: 
Word document and PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Friday, May 3, 2019
Web link: 
www.circi-ngo.org
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Nigerian National Policy on Education, revised in 2014 (4th edition)
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
UN Sustainable development goals
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Nigeria
Location(s): 
Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Faculty of Education Niger Delta University
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Location and Regional Characteristics
Greater Yenagoa consists of people who are, mostly, fisher folks and subsistence farmers. Most of the people are poor and have always asked for financial support to help them develop sustainably. There are still many youths not in school and others who cannot further their education due to finance.
There is the presence of a number of international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the area such as Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
1. Poor awareness on sustainable development issues and how they can contribute towards a better quality of life, this was achieved through community sensitization during the needs assessment.
2. Majority of people are poor and lack finance to invest in businesses and educational pursuit.
3. Many youths prefer to do the available semi-skilled jobs rather than look for money for further education
4. Youth restiveness due to idleness, over time more youths will be involved.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2017 to December, 2020
Rationale: 
Raise awareness on why scholarship awards are vehicles to rapidly improve human development, start a culture of further studies, cultivate a knowledge driven economy and end this dependency on oil revenue alone.
Objectives: 
Project Goal:
Improve the number of highly educated and well qualified persons in Gbarain/Ekpetiama clans for high level employment/appointments anywhere in the world.
Project Objectives:
The specific objectives of the scholarship scheme are:
a) To enable qualified and intending first degree and master’s degree certificate holders from Ekpetiama and Gbarain clans to run masters and doctor of philosophy degree programmes in the sciences, allied sciences, behavioural sciences, arts, management sciences, medicine, law and Engineering in Nigerian Universities.
b) To produce educated manpower from the above areas of study and to make them become self-reliant and contribute to community and national development.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
ACTIVITIES
1. ADVERTISEMENT/NOTIFICATION
Notice for interested candidates to apply for consideration was made in all the affected communities by the Community Trust and the Paramount Ruler.
2. APPLICATION PROCESS
• Candidates for the scholarship scheme collected application form from the Community Scholarship Committee and submitted back the completed forms along with documents.
• Award in each case was given to the candidate with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in the First or Masters Degree, having satisfied the conditions outlined.
• Applicants are therefore advised to write to their graduating institutions to send their academic transcripts to the Secretary of the Scholarship Committee.
• Candidate's applying for masters degree must submit their first degree transcript while those applying for Ph.D scholarship must submit their masters degree transcript.
3. SELECTION PROCESS
The Scholarship Committee met to consider the candidates in line with the preset criteria. Merit, accountability and transparency were the watchwords throughout the exercise.
Size of academic audience: 
33 beneficiaries (11 PhD and 22 Masters degree candidates) in the first phase
Results: 
So far, award has been given to 31 candidates (9 PhD and 22 Masters degree). 2 PhD and 12 Masters degree candidates who have submitted relevant evidence of attaining the criteria for next disbursement have been given their year two funds. Others are quickly completing the processes to qualify for the next disbursement.
Lessons learned: 
1. Involvement of the community leadership and consultation of the broad-based community stakeholders through needs assessment.
2. While the allocation is equally shared to all the communities, only the very best applicant in each community is awarded the scholarship.
3. Beneficiaries have glowing comments on how the scheme has improved their lot.
Key messages: 
Empower community through financial and educational support
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Project supports RCE efforts to financially empower community members.
Project supports community human capacity development.
Project contributes towards a knowledge driven economy and is moving communities away from a dependent population.
Funding: 
Funding is 100% by Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC).
References and reference materials: 
File Final Presentation.docx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No