Hundred tertiary students from the seven oil and gas enclave Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies of the Western Region would benefit fully paid scholarship from the TEN Tertiary Scholarship Scheme for the next academic year.

TEN, is Ghana’s second petroleum field operated by Tullow Ghana and has partners including Kosmos Energy, Petro SA, GNPC and Exploco.

Launching the TEN Tertiary Scholarship Scheme in Takoradi, the Social Performance Manager of Tullow Ghana, Edmond Fiifi Enchil said although Tullow and its partners have for the past few years halted its scholarships at the tertiary level to concentrate on the secondary education infrastructure and entrepreneurship support, it felt the need to support those it has supported at the secondary level to secure tertiary education, with special focus on its catchment communities.

“Tullow and its partners have for some time now been on a journey of supporting its immediate communities in many ways including fisheries support, school infrastructure at the SHS level, thus a $10million infrastructure project for SHS in dormitory and classroom bocks and the Tullow tertiary STEM scholarships. However the partners have decided to support students from the Western Region at the tertiary level as a continuation from the SHS level to make sure that they proceed to complete tertiary educational,” he noted.

Enchil also told Citi News that the scholarship for the 100 tertiary students was likely to be increased to 150 beneficiaries in the second academic year.

The TEN Tertiary Scholarship Scheme is being implemented by the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerces and Industry, STCCI in 7 MMDAs of interest includes Sekondi-Takoradi, Shama, Effia-Kwesimintsim, Shama, Ahanta West, Nzema-East, Jomoro and Ellembelle.

The Chief Executive Officer of STCCI, Vincent Annan giving the scope of the TEN Tertiary Scholarship also outlined the criteria for qualification for the scholarship.

“The TEN Tertiary Scholarship targets 100 students per year of tertiary students in all public universities, Colleges of Education and Colleges of Health. It will pay their academic fee, provide one-time laptop, accommodation or hostel fees as well as provide for stipends. Interested students from any of the seven MMDAs in the Western Region will have to demonstrate academic excellence,” he indicated.

Annan urged potential students beneficiaries to contact the STCCI office and its social media platforms to take advantage.

He also highlighted the importance of the TEN Scholarship scheme to the human resource needs of the petroleum sector.

“Such scholarships helps to develop capacity or human resources for industry to provide the essential supply chain services to the petroleum industry. Therefore the vision of the TEN Tertiary scholarship scheme resonate with the Chamber and the Business community’s vision,” he said.

Western Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, George Effah commended the TEN partners for its investment in education.

“The scholarship represent hope, opportunity and a brighter future hence this shows your commitment to education of the future of the current generation,” he said.

Prof Nana Akyipim Nkrumah, the Kyidomhene of Ahanta Ajumako who graced the TEN Tertiary Scholarship launch emphasised the significance of education to the nation’s development.

“The development of the most important factor in the development of a country is education, and therefore any group interested in the development of Human Resources must be commended. For this, TEN partners must be applauded since their scheme provides much hope for the country”, he said.

The implementing partner of the TEN Tertiary Scholarship Scheme, STCCI says it is collaborating with the various tertiary institutions on the commencement of their academic calendar to know when it will open its portal for applicants.