By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
A new scholarship regime for indigent students from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, under EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund is underway.
A representative of the area on the Board of Trustees of the Host Community Trust Fund (BoT), Engr. Sunny Udoh disclosed this to our Correspondent at the Council headquarters in Mkpat Enin during the flag off of skills acquisition training programme for youth recently.
He maintained that, plans were ongoing to advertise another scholarship grants for 150 beneficiaries to complement last year edition.
“The first batch of the scholarship under NNPC/MPN JVC EMOIMEE (Host Community Trust Fund) from Mkpat Enin was 74 beneficiaries in tertiary institutions with N400, 000 each. That was for scholarship in 2023 though paid in 2024.
“We are taking up another 150 to add to the 74 for last year, and the forms would be out very soon. Once they are ready, we would sensitize the public to apply”, he stated.
Engr. Udoh further stated that, the first batch of 74 students from Mkpat Enin in tertiary institutions were paid N400, 000 scholarship grants each last year under EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund noting that, the programme would continue to transform the lives of people in oil bearing communities of Akwa Ibom State.
He noted that, the Trust Fund established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, to develop communities hosting oil multinational companies, is already recording some positivity in empowerment of the people in Mkpat Enin and other member Council areas of the state.
“Part of the development initiatives anchored by the Host Community Development Trust Fund, is the just concluded free medical services, described as a direct life – touching programme.
“The free medical programme we had, was a direct life touching exercise, in which, people these days who are sick with different ailments, but does not have the money to go to hospitals, were the beneficiaries”, Engr. Udoh stated.
He further stated that, the first batch of 74 students from Mkpat Enin in tertiary institutions were paid N400, 000 scholarship grants each this year by the EMOIMEE Host Community Trust Fund.
Engr. Udoh maintained that, plans were underway to advertise another 150 slots this year to complement the 2023 scholarship grants adding that, forms would be out soon for the would – be beneficiaries to apply.
According to Engr. Sunny Udoh, “the Host Community Trust Fund, code-named EMOIMEE, is an initiative established to manage and distribute funds contributed by companies operating in the host communities, particularly in the Eket Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State.
“The primary goal of EMOIMEE is to ensure that, host communities benefit directly from the operations of companies in their area promoting sustainable development and social responsibility.
“Other programme packages for communities range from provision and maintenance of infrastructure, health, education, leadership/capacity building, community engagement, security and social programmes etc”.
