40 youths from communities hosting the operations of Starzs Investments Company Ltd have benefited from of a scholarship scheme launched by the company as part of the activities marking its 40th anniversary.
The initiative, unveiled by the company's Managing Director, Mrs Iroghama Ogbeifun, combines maritime education scholarships with industry-focused vocational training aimed at improving employability and supporting sustainable community development.
Speaking at the launch in Port Harcourt, Ogbeifun said the programme reflects the company's commitment to transforming lives through human capacity development and the promotion of gender inclusion.
"We must see our nation advance with every segment of society represented," she said, stressing that women must be adequately represented among the beneficiaries.
Of the 40 beneficiaries, four will receive scholarships to study at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, and Charkin Maritime Academy, with two students sponsored in each institution. The remaining 36 participants will undergo vocational training in Electrical Instrumentation, Welding and Fabrication, and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC).
Ogbeifun said the training areas were selected following industry needs assessments to equip beneficiaries with skills that are in high demand across the maritime and industrial sectors.
"We deliberately chose specialised skills that will make participants employable or enable them to become self-reliant after the programme," she said, adding that the company is also considering post-training support, including starter packs, to help graduates establish sustainable careers.
She noted that the initiative was inspired by the company's founder and Chairman, Engr Greg Utonwem Ogbeifun, whose career was shaped through a scholarship programme early in his professional life.
Starzs' Head of Human Resources, Tari Agiobu, described the programme as part of the company's long-standing commitment to empowering its host communities.
"We are equipping members of our host communities with skills that will not only transform individual lives but also strengthen their communities," he said.
Community leaders from Onne, Eleme, Rumuadolu and Ogu commended the initiative, describing it as a significant investment in youth development and a demonstration of Starzs' enduring partnership with its host communities.
Representatives of the communities said the programme would improve employment opportunities, promote self-reliance and positively impact families and local economies.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Ugwumba, Managing Director of Diopter Technologies, the company's technical partner for the training, urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity and build careers that would create lasting value for themselves and their communities.
The launch formed part of a week-long programme commemorating Starzs Investments Company Limited's 40th anniversary, celebrated under the theme "Transforming Lives, 40 Years On."
