Luanda: At least 85 Angolan students are set to benefit from scholarships for the upcoming academic year, as part of the 'Okutanga' social project launched by the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biodiversity (ANPG). According to Angola Press News Agency, the project will cover 100 percent of tuition fees, health and student insurance, a monthly stipend, and one annual trip for students studying abroad, among other benefits. This initiative, now in its second phase, is supported by annual funding of US$1.5 million through 2031 from ExxonMobil, with additional backing from Sonangol, the Block 15 Association, Azule Energy, and Equinor. At the scholarship award ceremony in Luanda, Diamantino Azevedo, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, highlighted the initiative's role in national development. He emphasized its potential to transform Angola's mineral resources into knowledge, skills, and opportunities for its citizens. Azevedo praised the collaboration among the funders, stressing that corpora te social responsibility should lead to initiatives that improve lives, create opportunities, and develop citizens ready to tackle current and future challenges. Addressing the scholarship recipients, Azevedo underscored the opportunity the scholarship represents for personal growth and development, urging students to approach their journey with dedication and resilience. He acknowledged the existing gap between talent and opportunity, noting the program's role in bridging this divide. Paulino Jerónimo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ANPG, announced that the second cycle of the scholarship program aims to train 200 recipients by 2036. He described academic training, coupled with family upbringing, as one of a nation's greatest investments. Jerónimo noted that the 'Okutanga' project scholarships are part of the oil sector's social responsibility efforts to support the university education of Angolan youth. The 'Okutanga' program, named after the Umbundu word for 'to study,' targets Angolan studen ts aged 17 to 23 who maintain a minimum grade average of 14. It provides full funding for undergraduate degree programs both within Angola and abroad, specifically in Portugal and Brazil. Applications for this edition were open from April 20 to May 1 of this year. In the project's first phase, 200 young Angolans were awarded scholarships for undergraduate studies, with 150 studying within the country and 50 abroad, while an additional five are pursuing master's degrees overseas.
