No fewer than 39 candidates passed the examination for the second edition of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), an official said.
Prof. Julius Okojie, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
Okojie said the second edition of the scheme was for the 2014/2015 academic session, adding that the successful candidates had been invited for an initial briefing at the NUC, Abuja, on June 9, at 9 a.m.
He urged the candidates to come along with their original certificates, NYSC discharge certificates, letters from two guarantors, international passports and letters of admission (if any).
He said the successful candidates were also encouraged to apply to study in any of the top 25 universities in the world approved for the scheme as indicated on the NUC’s Website.
He added that the candidates were also advised to check the NUC website; www.nuc.edu.ng, for further information.
Okojie, who is also the Chairman, Implementation Committee of the scheme, said the successful candidates had met the minimum requirements for the scheme, initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that “the 39 candidates happened to be the best among the best’’, and the essence of the scheme was to train professionals to drive the transformation agenda of the present administration and the goals of the vision 20:2020.
The NUC boss added that the candidates, upon graduation, would return to Nigeria to work for the government for five years before taking up any other appointment.
2,000 candidates applied for selected programmes into engineering, technology, sciences, basic medical sciences, medicine and economics among other fields, where the country was experiencing shortfalls.
No fewer than 623 candidates sat for the screening examination on Dec. 10, 2013, while only 39 candidates were successful for the scheme. (NAN)
