…financial, educational support enrolment opens July 21, selection scheduled for September 2025

Oredola Adeola

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company/HEIRS Energies Joint Venture has announced the plans to open enrolment for its scholarship scheme on July 21, 2025, under the OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), targeting 300 students from Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Etche, and Oyigbo LGAs of Rivers State studying in government-owned universities.

The beneficiaries of the scheme tagged the OML 17 University Scholarship Programme (USP), are expected to be selected in September 2025 for financial and educational support.

Osa Igiehon, CEO, Heirs Energies Limited, confirmed this in a statement obtained by Advisors Reports following the officially launch of the scholarship scheme.

According to the statement, the scholarship will provide financial and educational support to 300 qualified first-year students from OML 17 host communities who are currently enrolled in any course of study at government-owned universities across Nigeria.

Osa Igiehon, CEO, Heirs Energies Limited, said, “Education is the foundation of progress, and by empowering young people with access to learning, we are building stronger, more resilient communities.

“At Heirs Energies, we believe that shared prosperity begins with shared opportunity.”
Eligible candidates from OML 17 host communities are encouraged to apply from July 21, 2025, via the official scholarship portal: heirsenergies.com/scholarships.

“Detailed eligibility requirements and application procedures will be available on the website, on community notice boards, flyers, and through grassroots channels across the host communities.

The company stated that the initiative is part of the Trust’s broader mission to promote sustainable development through education and human capital investment, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

His Royal Majesty, Dr. Samuel Amaechi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, OML 17 HCDT, speaking on the launch, stated: “The launch of the OML 17 USP marks a new chapter in our efforts to uplift the youth in our host communities.

“We are proud to introduce a transparent, merit-based scholarship that will provide genuine access to education for those who need it most. This is not just a scholarship; it is a pathway to a better future.”

Applications for the scholarship will open on July 21, 2025, with an online testing and screening process leading to the final selection and formal announcement of 300 beneficiaries in September 2025, coinciding with the start of the new academic year.

The OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), established by the NNPC/Heirs Energies Joint Venture under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, drives sustainable development and economic empowerment across 73 communities.

It is the largest HCDT in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and is committed to transparency, inclusion, and long-term impact.