2026 Bursary: DESOPADEC Invites Applications From Delta Students
By BLESSING AGWE ODUGO
DESOPADEC Opens 2026 Bursary Portal for Delta Students
THE Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has opened its 2026 bursary application portal for eligible students from its mandate areas.
The online platform was officially launched on Tuesday 1st September 2026 at the commission’s headquarters.
Scheme Targets Tertiary Students
Declaring the portal open, DESOPADEC Executive Director, Social Services, Chief Favour Izoukumor, said the bursary was part of the commission’s continued investment in education and human capital development.
He said the initiative was designed to ease the financial pressure on families supporting students through tertiary education.
According to Izoukumor, DESOPADEC Chairman, Chief Barr. John Nani, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Festus Ochonogor, were unable to attend the launch because of other official engagements.
He said the commission remained committed to improving the welfare of people in its mandate areas through targeted intervention programmes.
Economic Pressure Drives Need for Support
Izoukumor noted that the bursary was particularly important amid rising economic pressures affecting families across the country.
He said the financial demands of tertiary education had become increasingly difficult for many households to meet.
The intervention, he explained, would provide support to students while helping young people pursue their educational and career goals.
Izoukumor also commended Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for supporting the 2026 programme.
He described the governor as student-friendly and said the state government’s budgetary support and necessary approvals had helped facilitate the implementation of the bursary scheme.
Eligibility Requirements
DESOPADEC said the bursary is open to students who meet specified conditions.
Applicants must be Delta State indigenes, particularly those from communities within the commission’s oil-producing mandate areas.
They must also be undergraduates of recognised universities in Nigeria or abroad and must have reached at least 200 level.
Applicants are required to provide a valid student identity card, a valid letter of admission and two recent passport photographs.
The commission urged prospective beneficiaries to study the application guidelines carefully before completing their forms.
Portal to Remain Open for Three Weeks
Izoukumor disclosed that the online application portal would remain open for three weeks.
After that period, the commission will stop accepting applications.
He therefore advised eligible students to submit their applications early rather than wait until the closing date.
Applicants can access the designated DESOPADEC bursary application platform through the commission’s bursary website, the bursary application portal.
Students Welcome Initiative
Members of the Executive Council of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Students Association welcomed the initiative.
The association represents students from the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika ethnic groups.
The students expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for supporting the bursary scheme.
They also commended Izoukumor for his role in advancing the programme and praised the DESOPADEC Board for sustaining educational support for students from the commission’s mandate areas.
The opening of the 2026 portal marks another step in DESOPADEC’s effort to support tertiary education and strengthen human capital development among young people in Delta State’s oil-producing communities.
