The WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria said it has expanded its scholarship scheme by providing education opportunities to an additional 49 deserving students from its host communities of Onne and Ogu in Rivers State, including the children of two employees of the company.
Announcing this in a statement on Monday, the terminal operator added that the scholarship was drawn from various universities and polytechnics across Nigeria.
“This latest batch brings the total number of scholarship beneficiaries to 146,” the statement read in part.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, congratulated the scholars for being selected out of many candidates for the scheme.
Klinke explained that the engagement within the communities had been strategised under three pillars of transparency, visibility, and inclusion to ensure that the communities within the company’s area of operation succeed alongside the company.
According to him, the scholarship scheme exemplifies the terminal’s commitment to improving and promoting education in “both the Onne and Ogu communities”.
He stressed that having worked for many years in Nigeria, he has observed how funding limitations have changed the direction of many youths, and that is the reason for the scholarship programme.
“This is the main reason we collectively highlighted this scholarship scheme in the Community Needs Assessment, which was jointly prepared by WACT and the communities, as a great way of improving the youths and reducing the burdens on their parents,” Klinke said.
The Managing Director of WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Jeethu Jose, described the scholarship scheme as an investment in the future of students, which aims to empower and ensure they shine as leaders and contributors to their families, the communities, the state, and Nigeria at large.
He said an integral part of the WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria scholarship scheme is the internship opportunities where the company’s offices are opened to some of the WACT scholars to gain practical experience.
“We envision a future where some of you will join us in WACT or even the APM Terminals Group. To further this vision, a few weeks back, we launched a new programme called the ‘WACT EngineerHer’ Programme, which is an intensive, on-the-job training designed to equip female engineering graduates with the skills and experience that they need to thrive in the workforce, either at WACT or any multinational company,” he asserted.
One of the scholarship beneficiaries, Divine Nei Osaroei, commended WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria for its generosity and commitment to education and its transparent selection process.
She also expressed appreciation to the company for lessening the students’ financial burdens while also motivating them to strive for excellence.
The Port Manager of Onne Port Complex, Abdulrahman Hussaini, encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity given to them and make Nigeria, not just their immediate communities, proud.
WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has remained a significant supporter of its host communities through its various CSR initiatives.
