2013/2014 NNPC/SPDC JV SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: MY STORY

2013/2014 NNPC/SPDC JV SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: MY STORY

Written by Evan Promise

Sorry this is coming late, and i didnt intend to make it public like this; but i’m doing it for certain reasons, and to answer some questions i was asked…

I applied for this particular bursary scheme this time last year… Oct 27 precisely. I don’t want to bore you with stuff i passed through in order to do so successfully… but it really was a rigorous process, and took a lot outta me; but my dad helped me a lot, and it made it a lil bit easier for me. There were other bursary schemes from the Oil and Gas sectors that actually pay more than SPDC but i chose it for certain personal reasons… i won’t bore you with that too. Anyways, i wrote the exam with about 3400 others on Dec 6, 2014… i think. Honestly, i didnt prepare for the exam; call it pride or whatever, but i knew i was going to make it… i just didn’t know i would make it that far.
June 16 this year, i got the letter that was signed by Mummy Gloria, instructing me on the next steps to take. I wanted to keep it low key though, so i just told few people: Mhiz Juliet, Zik-zion Abara, mummy Mary Maynechux John, my guardian Dr. Achebe, Engr Steve Ufoarah and then my parents… though word got out through my mum. I wasn’t that much elated at first… i told people close to me why.
The next step took the better part of last semester… that was the most productive thing i did then actually; given that i missed much, cos of it. I won’t bore you with details about that too… mostly my immediate family, and few guyz knew the stuff i went through.
Fast-forward to late September, I got series of emails from Sarah, Chidimma, and calls from Larry… they were in charge of the bursary scheme. I got to understand that i was actually one of the best in the exam, and that i was expected to be in PH for the award ceremony. I think that was the point i got excited…. i mean, i thought i retired from the stage when i completed my secondary education, so it was something…

I accepted the invitation… i mean, who would turn down an all-expense paid 3 day “vacation” during this freaking boring holiday abi strike; the last time i had that kind “vacation” was in 2012 during the Cowbell NASSMAC award ceremony at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
My stay in PH was awesome… i met guyz – Olisanonso, Omokolade,Ahaiwe Chinagozi C, Temzy O. Niyi, Chizaram, Samson, Esther, Toluwani, Toluwanimi Esther, Taiwo, Josh, Acetune Jeff, Sholape… and other guyz i can’t remember their names. I also got to interview guyz living in PH and witnessed firsthand the state of Rivers. Amaechi really destroyed Rivers, and WIke actually performed excellently this few months he’s been there, and furiously rebuilding what Amaechi destroyed… everybody i interviewed, even a few whites, had same opinion… that’s a story for another day though.

Out of 3400 students that sat for the exam, 638 were offered scholarships, 60 were invited for the ceremony, and 13 were given awards. Out of the 60 that were invited, i was the only guy from Unizik and Anambra in general. Of the 13 given awards, there was just 1 person from Unizik(me), 1 from Uniport, 1 from Absu, 1 from Unilorin, and 2 from Unilag; the rest(7) were from UI; and they were very well represented amongst the other 47… a fact i made sure to highlight during my remark. From the interactions i had with the rest of us… UI truly deserved it, and they will keep on being the best university in Nigeria, till other universities esp Unizik, step up their game. For a brief moment, i actually regretted giving in to my mum’s persuasion, and making Unizik my 1st choice, instead of UI, as was agreed originally. Other varsities really need to buckle up and stop dwelling on past glory… that’s a story for another day too. Shout out to guyz in UI by the way… y’all are great

Shell budgeted roughly 250 million Naira for the bursary scheme, and their were other entitlements. They follow up their scholars, and on graduation, absorb those that graduated with good results and passed their test. It aint limited to their scholars alone though… an arrangement was made in which universities are expected to forward names of best graduating students in their various departments to them… limited to engineering and a few other similar fields sha. But the bursary scheme aint for engineering alone… in fact, of us 13 awardees, we were only two studying engineering… myself and Olisanonso who’s also Elect Elect by the way(shout out to all EE and ECE guyz… we rock!). Medicine mostly, pharmacy, economics and law were represented too. So guyz, esp those entering 200lvl, don’t be disheartened, keep checking for the scheme that accepts applications from your department; apply, prepare very well and sit for the scholarship exam… i might not guarantee top ten for y’all, but i know you’ll get the scholarship. Inbox me if you need help or have questions… i’ll gladly help. You can also contact Excel-galaxy Ajah Anayoif you have any questions; he owns Nigerian University Scholarshipswebsite, and might be the best person to help. To all the other guyz out there, esp my fellow engine guyz…. Nigeria might be the worst place to study engineering, and your school might also be the worst place to study engineering or any other stuff… but don’t be bothered by that, it won’t do you any good. There were others before us, they passed through their own challenges, and the serious ones made it. They won’t accept any excuse from us. There is still room at the top, except its only for the best. There are job opportunities out there, 6+-figure salary mostly… but they are reserved and waiting for the best. Aspire to be among the best; you can be among the best, you have what it takes… you just have to like Mohammed Ali said – reach down to the bottom of your soul, and access that last ounce of energy needed to win, when the match is even. If you aint ready to fight it out, to be the best, my candid advice to you is to drop now, and ply your trade elsewhere cos unfortunately and as is common knowledge, there aint room for the average or poor in Nigeria. The choice is yours entirely, but i hope and pray you’ll heed the voice of reason.

I wouldn’t end this lengthy piece without thanking those that actually inspired me to write this… Sarah, Larry, and Chidimma(who was once a zikite too). Also Engr Greg Ogbeifun, CEO Starz Investment ltd, who offered Olisanonso and i(the only engineers amongst us) a blank cheque, and a place for our IT and NYSC attachments and also offered to mentor us. Also Engr Asawo Ibifuro, MD Cinfores and runs Scholastica Nigeria, who also agreed to mentor me. I look upto you guyz; i hope to drink from the wealth of experience you have, and i also look forward to working with you guyz in the near future. I won’t fail to appreciate my fellow awardees and scholars for making my stay in PH so memorable. I am thrilled by the prospect of getting to know you guyz better, and establishing a lifetime friendship and partnership possibly. It feels weird to be kinda mortal again though, and i really miss you guyz. Hopefully we’ll meet on another platform soon…

Thanks to y’all that sent in their congratulatory messages, and those that kept egging me on and praying for me. I couldn’t have done it without your prayers and support… i can only promise to keep making you guyz proud; and i assure y’all that it’s a ‘we’ thing; i won’t forget you guyz, i will use the very last of my resources to make sure that everyone of you won’t have cause to lament or worry in the near future… that’s a promise by the way. The closer you are the better.
I also look forward to partnering with most of y’all in making our society better, and bettering not just our lives, but touching as many lives as possible.
I believe the first step towards loving oneself and being great, is by loving others, and being selfless in service to mankind. I have a purpose and a mandate, and i’ll deliver, in what lil way i can. I just need y’all as partners; together we can eradicate ignorance esp(its a very wicked and ugly demon), maximize our manifest and latent potentials, serve mankind selflessly and with love, and make the world, esp Nigeria, a better place.

I am Promise, and I rest my case.