Mkpoikana Udoma
06 December 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — A total of 25 physically challenged students have been given scholarship by Nigeria’s leading oil and gas logistics firm, Intels.
The scholarship which was given to children from Compassion Home for the Handicapped, Nkpogu, Port Harcourt, was facilitated by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Physically-Challenged Matters.
A total of N67,500 was given to each student in the primary cadre, while N150,000 was given to the secondary school cadre and the sum of N216,000 for university and tertiary education.
Speaking at the event, the Principal, Learning, and Development Supervisor in the Human Resources Department of Intels, Mr. Peter Lumati, said the company has been on the scheme since the year 2003, and over 100 physically challenged students have benefited.
Lumati said the scholarship awards are aimed at encouraging the physically challenged persons in their educational pursuits from primary to university level.
He added that since inception, no awardees have failed or repeat any academic session.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Physically-Challenged Matters, Mr. Itekena Altraide, advised the awardees to utilise the scholarship positively, since it was a means of overcoming their limitations.
Altraide also called on other businesses, corporate organisations and firms operating in the state to emulate the noble gestures by Intels.
“It is only education and human capacity development that can transform the community of persons with disability from being a liability in the society to becoming societal developers.
“Persons with disability in Rivers State so far do not have any reason not to acquire formal education. With the support my office has received from His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike, the office would soon commence human capital development to commemorate the transformation processes of persons with disability in the State.”
For his part, the Chairman of Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Eugene Jaja, commended the contribution of Intels to the development of persons with disability, especially at the time that the Federal government was working towards frustrating the firm out of business.
Jaja said, “if with the present ordeal Intels is experiencing under this Federal Government and they can still showcase such benevolence, then nothing stops other companies in the state to emulate Intels.”
