Fifty young and enterprising Ghanaians are beneficiaries of the 2014/2015 Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme.
Each qualifying candidate has at least $60,000 a year covering tuition, travel, warm clothes, monthly allowances and baggage allowance for training in oil and gas in selected universities in the United Kingdom.
The students took part in interviews and group assessments after rigorous selection process by the British Council.
Speaking at a farewell dinner for the students in Accra Friday, General Manager of Tullow Ghana, Charles Darko, said the introduction of the scheme is to address both the industry skill gaps and host country’s capacity development requirements.
He noted that Tullow’s focus is to help build capacity among local businesses through investment in education so that local people can find work in the oil and gas industry.
The Tullow Ghana General Manager indicated that over time the scholarship to study overseas would give way to scholarships to study locally.
He reveled that Tullow is set to partner with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to train the scholars instead of making them travel overseas.
Mr. Darko urged the scholars to focus on their primary objective to maintain the record set by their predecessors.
On his part, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah commended Tullow for complementing government’s effort in building capacity of students in the oil and gas industry.
“I’m proud of the steps you have taken as a country to protect our interest” he added.
The Energy Ministry however advised Tullow to move beyond offering scholarships and rather integrate the graduates into their work force.
Kofi Buah also urged beneficiaries to return home after their studies and help with national development.
‘You must return to Ghana and contribute your new skills and expertise to build a formidable oil & gas industry here,’ he stated.
In a speech read on her behave, Education Minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman expressed her appreciation to Tullow for instituting the scholarship scheme aimed at building the capacity of young Ghanaians in the oil and gas industry.
She urged the beneficiaries to build on the excellent performance of the pioneers of the scheme by exhibiting the highest sense of patriotism during their time in the United Kingdom.
Prof Opoku Agyeman encouraged the students to make Ghana proud by taking their studies seriously and make Ghana proud.
