It was a weekend replete with testimonies and rekindling of hope as Savannah Energy, a leading Oil and Gas Company in Akwa Ibom State, gathered parents, dignitaries from public and private sectors in Uyo to celebrate the 2024 SEE-IT Scholarship award winners.
The scholarship award ceremony which brought on board 50 new beneficiaries of Savannah Energy undergraduate scholarship programme, took place at Ibom Icons Hotel with a mentorship clinic for public school students drawn from the 20 select secondary schools who are members of the SEE-IT Environmental Awareness Club (EAC).
Speaking during the scholarship award ceremony, some of the beneficiaries in their goodwill messages counted their gains from the Savannah Energy SEE-IT Scholarship Award and mentorship programme and appreciated Savannah Energy for giving them the opportunity to excel in their academic pursuits through the SEE-IT Scholarship programme.
One of the beneficiaries, Shania Wisdom Effiong, a 100 level Law student of the University of Uyo, described the Savannah Energy SEE-IT Scholarship as a lifeline to her educational pursuit as an orphan from a low economic background.
“This achievement is only possible through divine favor. I lost my parents at a very tender age. I was hopeless, I have faced alot of challenges in life. I never expected that I will have a University education. My life is a reflection of God’s faithfulness. My heart felt gratitude goes to Savannah Energy for their investments in our future. I thank Savannah Energy for their commitment to promoting academic excellence. Thank you for believing in me and other beneficiaries of this scholarship. We will not let you down, we look forward to using our knowledge and skills to drive positive change in our communities.” Shania Effiong said.
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Another beneficiary, Covenant Ekarika, a 100 level medical student of the University of Uyo, sees SEE-IT Scholarship Award as an investment that is done based on confidence. To Covenant Ekarika, his dream of becoming a medical doctor which started as a mere childhood fantasy is gradually coming to reality courtesy of the Savannah Energy SEE-IT Scholarship programme.
According to him, “Savannah Energy is gradually turning my childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor which was seen as a mere childhood fantasy to a reality. I appreciate Savannah Energy for considering us for this investment and having confidence in us. In the next 7 years maximum, we will produce the best of medical doctors, lawyers, teachers and engineers courtesy of the Savannah Energy SEE-IT Scholarship programme.”
To Dickson Nsikak Saturday, the first prize winner of Environmental Awareness Club State Quiz, Savannah Energy Environmental Awareness Club is an opener for him on environmental issues.
He added that the club also serves as a good platform for him to contribute towards building a safer and an eco-friendly society.
Dickson Saturday is a student of Southern Annang Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Okoro, Oruk Anam LGA and a member of Savannah Energy Environmental Awareness Club.
Speaking at the occasion, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who served as a Special Guest of honour at the ceremony, commended Savannah Energy for supporting the ARISE AGENDA of his administration by investing in the education of Akwa Ibom youths.
Governor Eno who was represented at the event by the immediate past Commissioner for Education Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, described education as the foundation of progress that fuels innovations among nations.
“Education is the foundation of progress, shaping minds, fueling innovations and defining the future of nations. Let me specially commend Savannah Energy for not only doing business in Akwa Ibom State but also giving back to the society through education. SEE-IT Scholarship programme is a laudable initiative. This is the kind of collaboration that we need in Akwa Ibom State. I encourage other corporate bodies to emulate this initiative of Savannah Energy.
“Education is the cornerstone of my administration as encapsulated in the blueprint of my ARISE Agenda. In the past months, we have remained committed to providing quality, inclusive and accessible education to all. We have sustained free and compulsory education from primary school level to secondary level.”
Eno stressed that education will continue to remain the cornerstone of his administration and pledged his readiness to continue subsidizing education in the state.
Offering insights into The SEE-IT undergraduate scholarship programme of Savannah Energy, Nkoyo Etuk, Head of Stakeholders Relations said the SEE-IT programme which she described as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of Savannah Energy, is aimed at giving every willing child quality education.
“When you take stock of a good number of successful people today who had good education, you will discover that many of them, someone offered to assist them. Today, they have become very great and successful people.
“At Savannah Energy, we want to ensure that every willing child has access to education, not just education but good education. This is the driver for us at Savannah and the reason we make investment in education is not only to give back, but to ensure that every willing child is given an opportunity to excel.
“The SEE-IT programme is aimed at enhancing access to education not just education but quality education.” Nkoyo Etuk said.
Nkoyo Etuk, who is also the Savannah Energy Regional Manager, South East, Nigeria, explained that the scholarship programme which covers tuition, living cost and studies materials, is merit- based as beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous screening process.
According to her, “The programme includes annual award of full university scholarship, covering fees, living cost, studies materials for 50 students each year as well as internship opportunity at Savannah. I am truly excited to tell you that all the beneficiaries of the previous set are doing excellently well in school.
“All of them are ranging on 4 points. The 50 beneficiaries were selected from 1481 applications received recently from admitted students from Akwa Ibom State and Cross Rivers State origin.
“These students went through a rigorous and merit based screening process. They took a computer-based test and also passed through an interview session which was led by university professors.”
In his goodwill message, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, represented at the ceremony by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Rev. Sister Prof. Anthonia Essien described the Savannah Energy SEE-IT Scholarship programme as a great educational investment that will bring great achievement in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria in the future.
Prof. Ndaeyo commended Savannah Energy for ensuring that the beneficiaries were selected through a very transparent process and promised to continue to encourage hard work among undergraduate students of the University of Uyo.
