The Executive Director, of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Noble Pepple held a press briefing on the 14^th of March, 2012 in the RSSDA premises to formally announce the release of results of successful candidates in the Governor’s Special Overseas Undergraduate Scholarship programme for the 2012/2013 session. Present at the briefing were some members of the Agency’s senior management team.

The press briefing started with welcome remark by the Executive Director, who gave a synopsis of the overseas scholarship scheme run by the Agency, including the rigorous, open and transparent followed for the awards. A total of 12,404 candidates applied for the scheme, out of which over 7,600 candidates who met the basic requirement were invited to write the aptitude test in December 2011.

A key feature of the 2012/2013 awards is the inclusion of Non-Rivers indigenes resident in the State for at least ten years who are conformed taxpayers in the awards.

A total of 160 candidates were successful, of which 15 candidates were awarded under the absolute merit category, 129 candidates through the 23 local government areas (on an average of five per LGA) and 16 candidates (or 10%) under the non-indigene category.

The Executive Director disclosed that the successful awardees will first undergo A’ Level studies in the country before proceeding overseas upon completion of their qualifying programmes. The exceptions are candidates who already possess an A’ Level qualification or those whose proposed courses of study do not require an A’ level or foundational pre-requisite.