No fewer than 1,500 postgraduates and undergraduates across four states in the federation have benefited from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited PINL, scholarship grants.
The beneficiaries draw from Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Abia states received grants totaling over two billion naira. The grants, spread across 216 pipeline host communities were disbursed to support students educational pursuit, especially considering the harsh economic reality.
Beneficiaries along the Trans Niger Pipeline TNP and Eastern Gas Network EGN, received N500,000 per undergraduate, while postgraduate students were given one million naira each.
Presenting the cheques at PINL’s April monthly stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, the General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh said, “the initiative is a direct expression of gratitude to communities that have supported the protection of the pipelines.”
According to Mezeh, “this is our own way of saying thank you to our host communities. The beneficiaries total over 1,500 and we have disbursed over N2 billion and this is exclusive of women empowerment and skill acquisition programmes.
“I want to use this occasion to appeal to community youths to reject pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, instead to take advantage of opportunities the company provides.
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“We are thanking them for supporting us to protect the pipelines, and we are using this medium to appeal to youths in our communities to shun pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft. They should endeavour to provide us with vital information to maintain the momentum.”
Further, the GM highlighted the operational improvements driven by community cooperation have been maintained, with the company remaining on track to help achieve the Federal Government’s production target.”
His words: “There is zero infraction across all our areas of operation. We are approaching the 2 million barrels per day projection of the Federal Government. we have already achieved 1.8 million, and the target is doable.”
On behalf of the beneficiaries, a postgraduate student at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education IAUE, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Donald Justice, described the grant as a turning point.
Justice said “initially I thought it was not real, but the money came and I’m running the programme with so much ease. What they are doing is empowering the common man who never had hope of pursuing their education. This will spur me to help others when I am capable. I thank PINL for this opportunity.”
