The Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board, Queen (Dr.) Josehine Izonbodor-Torru has commended the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) for funding the establishment of a Scholarship Sourcing and Funding Portal in the State. Queen Izonbodor-Torru made the commendation during the launching of the Scholarship Portal at the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Law, NDU in Yenagoa.

According to her, the portal would afford students the opportunity of surfing for foreign scholarship and funding to pursue their educational career. She further explained that, the software portal is an exclusive innovation towards providing solutions to the Youths who are desirous to further their education in foreign institutions adding that, the scheme was designed to source and apply for scholarship automatically for candidates with requisite qualifications noting that, the scheme is established to support government in its quest of advancing the frontiers of education in Bayelsa State.

The Scholarship Board Chairman seized the opportunity to applaud formal Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson for the wisdom in establishing the Trust Fund as well as Governor Douye Diri for sustaining the Fund which has contributed enormously to the upliftment of education. In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah expressed delight in the project and commended the EDTF Board for their unprecedented support towards the development of the educational sector. He also commended the management of Scholarship Board for their creativity in the establishment of the software portal.

According to him, government has prioritized education as the best form of developing our children and urged the beneficiaries of the scheme to take advantage of the opportunity to equip themselves and impact on the society as well as the economy of the State. Also speaking, the Acting Chairman, EDTF, Professor Francis Sikoki expressed gladness that the project has seen the light of the day and commended the management of Bayelsa State Scholarship Board for their foresight in initiating the programme noting that, it is intended to enable the Youths access international funding for their education. According to him, the programme will avail them wider range of opportunities available through the internet across the globe and urged the Youths to take full advantage of the programme to better themselves and the society.

He further explained that, the EDTF has in several ways supported and intervened in critical areas in the educational sector particularly in the scholarship programmes in hardship areas which is critical to the economy of the State and the country at large. According to him, the EDTF is supporting the training of (16) Sixteen Special Education Teachers who are under scholarship at the Ignatus Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, EDTF, Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme and make themselves relevant in pursuant of their education to be solution providers in the society. According to her, government alone cannot provide scholarship for every one while urging students to make good use of the opportunity to source for scholarship outside the country to acquire new knowledge and in turn impact the Ijaw land and the Bayelsa State in particular.

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Education, Dr. Charles Daniel and the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei who were all represented at the event praised the EDTF for intervening in critical educational projects and the Scholarship Board for the achievement.