iii. A total of 450 teachers benefited from the programme and were given Laptop Computers. iv. A two-day Capacity Building Workshop for 450 Secondary School Teachers in Mathematics and English Language in the nine NDDC states was completed. NDDC Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship i. The 2016 NDDC Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme kicked off during the Quarter with a public advertisement for applications from interested applicants. ii. Meanwhile, the 2015 NDDC Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Awards to 200 beneficiaries drawn from the various NDDC states was concluded with the disbursement of funds to the successful awardees. Civic Education and Campaign against Electoral Violence The Commission, in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, (NGO name) held civic education and campaign against electoral violence in Rivers State. Youths, the political class and women were the target groups as the NGO held workshops and town hall meetings. Skills Acquisition and Development a. MSME Capacity Building & Empowerment i. A total of 198 Entrepreneurs from the nine states of the Niger Delta were selected through a rigorous competitive process. They have been trained in various aspects of entrepreneurship including mentoring under business consultants. Ninety-five percent of the trainees have received their expansion grants depending on the nature of their business or the approved business proposal. Monitoring & Evaluation of the business was undertaken within the review period. b. Training on Building Skills Technology i. The Commission conducted the NDDC Building Skills Technology Training Programme at King Amachree Academy in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on March 31, 2016. Two hundred and seventy (270) youths and women are to benefit from this programme. The first batch of 130 trainees has completed the theoretical aspect and internship (hands-on experience). The second batch of 140 trainees would soon commence training. NDDC Oil Spill Response Management Training Programme i. The Commission has commenced implementation of the NDDC Oil Spill Response Training Programme. One hundred and eighty (180) trainees will benefit from this training. The key objective of this programme is to create a pool of qualified and competent Oil Spill Respondents to be certified by National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to manage oil spill and carry out environmental remediation in the Niger Delta. The theoretical aspect of the programme has been completed. The field work / practical aspect is ongoing. NDDC Telecommunication (Fibre Optics) Training Programme i. The Commission has embarked on the training of 180 Niger Deltans on Telecommunication (Fibre Optics) technology. The training is currently going on in Owerri, Imo State capital. The key objective of this initiative is to build specific skills in leading-edge technologies to 114

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