A total of 623 candidates met the criteria for selection for the second edition of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), the Chairman of the scheme, Prof. Julius Okojie, said.
In a statement in Abuja on Friday, Okojie, who is the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, said the second edition of the scheme was for the 2014/2015 academic session.
Okojie, who is the Chairman, Implementation Committee of PRESSID, said that shortlisted candidates would sit for the screening examination on Dec. 10 at Chams Plc, Abuja.
The 446 candidates wrote the test for the first edition of PRESSID for the 2012/2013 academic session out of whom 100 were selected.
Okojie said that the scheme was part of efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 20:2020 and President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.
”Federal Government of Nigeria has plans to develop a critical mass of professionals, who will serve as catalysts of change and agents of scientific and technological advancement as well as sustainable economic development.
”But this can only be achieved through the sponsorship of outstanding students for postgraduate studies in the top 25 universities in the world.
”This is why the Federal Government has instituted the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development,” he said.
Okojie said that the scheme was for graduates who obtained first class degrees from recognised and approved universities.
He said the graduates must be in the areas of sciences, medicine, basic medical sciences, engineering, economics, special aspects of biology, nuclear physics, quantitative genetics, medical biochemistry, aeronautical engineering, among others. (NAN)
