449 First Class Graduates write Presidential Special Scholarship Aptitude Test for 100 Scholarship Slots

In a bid to reward graduates of Nigerian Universities who complete their studies with a first class degree, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a special post-graduate scholarship scheme for them on May 24, 2012.

Beneficiaries of the special scheme would be entitled to post graduate scholarships in science and engineering courses in the best Universities across the world.

Almost three months after the announcement was made, lots of first class graduates across the country have responded to the scheme as many of them wrote the special aptitude test for the scholarship yesterday.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) announced that 449 candidates met the criteria for selection for the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for innovation and development and wrote the Presidential Special Scholarship Aptitude Test.

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Julius Okojie who visited the Chams Centre in Abuja where the candidates wrote the test said the selected graduates had obtained First Class degrees from recognised and approved universities.

“Of the 449 candidates who are writing the test this year, we are only going to take 100 students from the best of the best,” he told Daily Times. “This scheme is part of the efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 20:2020 and the Transformation Agenda of Mr President. This test will be held annually with 100 students qualifying for the scheme for innovation and development.”

He added that the outstanding students would have their postgraduate studies at the top 25 universities in the world.

Candidates for the scholarship were drawn from courses in Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Economics, special aspects of Biology, Nuclear Physics, Quantitative Genetics, Medical Biochemistry and Aeronautical engineering, among others.

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When the scholarship scheme was inaugurated, most of the concerns raised that were raised was regarding transparency in the selection of beneficiaries of the scholarship. As most readers on BN commented when the news broke (click here), the scholarship scheme would be laudable if it was transparent. Another major concern was in the narrow selection of the courses eligible for scholarship.

As the scholarship scheme progresses to the Aptitude Test stage, what are your thoughts concerning it?