Nestlé Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders by opening entries for its annual scholarship program.

Aimed at high-achieving senior secondary and tertiary students pursuing studies in Science and Technology, the scholarship, according to a statement by the Nestlé management, and made available to this medium, supports students in communities surrounding Nestlé operations.

Since launching the Community Scholarship in 2020, Nestlé has remained committed to providing financial support to students in its host communities. This support covers tuition, accommodation, uniforms, books, and other essential expenses, ensuring these students have the resources they need throughout their education journey.

In this round, 90 verified indigenes will receive grants totaling N18 million. The application portal opens on November 5, 2024, and closes on December 8, 2024. 

Victoria Uwadoka, Nestlé Nigeria Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating shared value, linking Nestlé’s success to the well-being of its host communities. She encouraged scholarship recipients to strive for academic excellence to stay competitive on a global scale. “These scholarships reflect our unwavering dedication to investing in the future of our youth. At a time when economic challenges place added strain on families nationwide, we’re proud to provide meaningful financial support that eases this burden. By investing in education, we’re not only empowering individual students but also fostering the growth and prosperity of our entire community.”

The call for entries announcement was made at the recent award ceremony for the 2023/2024 batch of recipients, where 65 students from schools in Abaji, Agbara, and Sagamu were awarded scholarships.

One of the recipients from the award ceremony, Adeyemi Gbenga Daniel, a tertiary beneficiary studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, said, “This scholarship empowers us to pursue our dreams, fuels our passion for learning, and helps us explore opportunities that might have otherwise been out of reach”.

Also speaking at the event, traditional leaders of the recipient communities expressed gratitude for the company’s consistent efforts. The Ona of Abaji, the Alagbara of Agbara, and the Akarigbo of Remo Land, represented by their chiefs, praised Nestlé Nigeria for keeping its promises and making a real difference through its Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives. They recognized the positive effects on their communities, from educational support to youth empowerment, and promised their ongoing support for Nestlé’s operations, ensuring that the communities remain welcoming for business growth.

As the program continues to evolve, Nestlé remains focused on nurturing talent and encouraging academic excellence. By investing in the education of young people, the company seeks to create long-lasting positive impacts in its host communities, helping to shape a more promising future for Nigeria’s next generation of leaders and innovators.

To apply for the Nestlé Community Scholarship and take a step toward your future, please click here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=I6jEmmnVEaEf5WPPUefSmrmj6UaT09MhTh0eHSbd2RUQzRSWjQxNEcyMjVOV1JBRVpaVFVXSE81MC4u to access the application portal.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, is leading a high profile of police officers and administrators to the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow, United Kingdom, including the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, Vice President Africa (INTERPOL), AIG Umar Garba (RTD), Head (INTERPOL, National Crime Bureau), and other Interpol officials.

The 92nd session of the INTERPOL General Assembly, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director Information and Public Relations, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) is holds between November 4 and 8, 2024 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and comprises delegates appointed by the governments of member countries. It meets once a year and takes all the major decisions affecting general policy, the resources needed for international cooperation, working methods, finances, and programme of activities.

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has warned the Federal government of dire consequences of withholding the federal allocations meant for Rivers State amid the political tussle between Governor Siminlayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The INC, which made the threat during the 10th Anniversary of the Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Worldwide, held in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend, warned the government to resist the temptation of withholding statutory allocations to Rivers State, ostensibly in compliance with a high court judgment, or brace up for dire consequences.

Speaking at the event, the President of INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba, called on President Bola Tinubu to be careful with the handling and management of the Rivers State crisis, which, according to him, had become provocative.

Okaba noted that if the alleged persistent and discriminative assault on Governor Fubara continues unchecked, the Ijaw nation will have no option but take action against the perpetrators.

“On a day like this, where Ijaw women have gathered, we need to also make some pronouncements on the state of the nation,” Okaba said.

“Let me use this opportunity to advise the Federal government, led by Bola Tinubu, to be very conscious of handling and managing the crisis in Rivers State.

“In the light of the High Court judgment stopping or renting statutory allocations to Rivers State, INC considers that as very provocative to the Niger Delta and it is also unconstitutional.

“If the Federal Government decides to use the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deny Rivers State and, by extension, Ijaw Nation, of their statutory allocations, they will surely get what they want from Ijaw Nation.

“We want to make it clear also to the entire world that if the persistence of the discriminatory attack, insult, and intimidation of the governor continues unchecked, there might be dire consequences.

Warning the federal government to thread softly, Okaba said:

“Alamasiegha once said, ‘If you deny the Ijaw people, even if it is 50 per cent of their God-given wealth, a day will come; a day will surely come when the Ijaws will revolt back,.”

He however, called on the Ijaw people to remain calm in the face of provocation.

“Please remain calm because, in the first place, this judgment will not stand the test of time,” Okaba added.