By Dele Ogbodo
The Management of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Monday said federal government
through the agency has spent approximately N753 million annually in various fields of ICT postgraduate for its scholars.
In a statement signed by NITDA’s Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, quoted the Head of Human Resources and Administration Mr. Mohammed Yelwa, as saying that each scholar studying abroad receives an average package of N17.5 million yearly covering tuition fees, personal allowance accommodation and while in-country scholars receive an average of 3.5 million.
Umar stated that as part of federal government’s human capital development, the agency (NITDA), has awarded postgraduate scholarships to 92 students for Masters and Doctorate degrees in relevant areas of ICT and ICT Law in the 2018/2018 academic year.
Umar, said the scheme is aimed at bridging the digital divide through human capital development with emphasis on creating and supporting a knowledge-based economy.
She said two scholars were selected per state, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at Masters Level and one scholar per geopolitical zone of the country at doctorate level.
“The scholarship scheme is highly competitive and candidates are selected based on academic excellence
and leadership qualities. Applicants go through rigorous and transparent selection process; holders of Bachelor’s degree with First Class or SecondClass (Upper) Honours in any IT related field are eligible to apply for the MSc scholarships while only lecturers in any of the Higher Institutions of Learning in the country with MSc in any IT related field are eligible to apply.
“After application, shortlisted candidates sit for a computer-based aptitude test and two candidates with the highest scores from each of the 36 states and the FCT final interview for the MSc while
only one candidate per geopolitical zone is invited for the PhD scholarship.”
Through the Agency’s efforts at assessing and addressing ICT skills requirements to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s sustainable economic growth and development
strides through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), this year, the scheme was expanded to cover diverse areas including LLM ICT Law.
She stressed that in an effort to enhance access as well as provide opportunities to both public and private Universities in the country, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Director General/CEO, introduced the Nigerian version of the scheme.
According to her, 5,504 candidates applied out of which 2,188 sat for the computer-based aptitude test. The final interview is designed to assess candidates’ academic merit and
exceptional character traits that will enable them maintain highest level ethical values, discipline, dedication to studies and be worthy ambassadors of
the country – an innovative extension of the selection process introduced by the Director General to enhance the scheme’s credibility.
The statement said: “Yelwa further revealed that each scholar studying abroad receives an average package of N17.5 million naira per annum comprising tuition fees, personal allowance to cover accommodation, living expenses and other allowances while in-country scholars receive an average of 3.5 million naira and about N752.5 million naira is spent annually on the scheme.
“From inception of thescheme to date, the Agency has successfully sponsored 341 Nigerian Graduates invarious ICT fields at Masters Level and 42 for Doctorate Level at Universities
in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany and Australia. A number of beneficiaries of the scheme are now in full employment while others have set up viable IT business ventures that are providing employment opportunities as well as developing globally competitive products and services, thereby making valuable
contribution to the Nigerian economy.”