The Federal Government on Friday sent 40 indigent students from Bayelsa State to the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, on scholarship for four years.
The students who are part of a scholarship scheme established by Dr. Jonathan when he was the Governor of Bayelsa State had been having dfifficulties following the scrapping of the scheme by subsequent administrations in the state.
Fortune, however, came the way of the teenagers when the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, took up the scheme as part of effort by government to equip youngsters from the oil rich region with quality education.
Speaking during a short orientation ceremony for the students in Abuja before their departure, Kuku admonished them to be good ambassadors of the country.
Kuku explained that the nation expects the highest standards from them having provided them with such unique opportunity in life.
He noted that President Jonathan started the programme for the brightest 100 pupils from indigent homes across Bayelsa State with the vision to create a pool of young educated citizens who would contribute to the development of the state and the economy of the nation.
He said of the 100 students, eight have been taken over by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), assuring that the remaining 52 would also benefit from the Federal Government scholarship to continue their education in some of the nation’s best model secondary schools.
Speaking to newsmen, one of the scholars, Enegi Nadum (17), expressed happiness for being able to continue their education and assured that they would do their best to make Nigeria proud.
“In the last few years President Jonathan has been like a father to me and I am a very happy and proud Nigerian,” she said.
