Students from oil-producing areas of Delta State can now apply for the 2026 DESOPADEC bursary as the commission has opened an online portal for the scheme, with payment expected to begin in November.
The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission formally launched the bursary programme on Tuesday and directed eligible students in its mandate areas to submit their applications through the commission’s online platform.
The Executive Director of Social Services, DESOPADEC, Chief Favour Izuokumor, disclosed this during the launch at the commission’s headquarters in Warri.
Izuokumor said the payment would commence in November if the verification of applicants was completed in October.
He urged prospective beneficiaries to carefully study the application requirements before submitting their forms, warning that applicants who fail to provide the necessary documents could lose their eligibility.
The executive director also warned students against multiple applications.
He said any applicant found to have submitted more than one application would be disqualified from the bursary scheme.
Izuokumor said the programme followed engagements between DESOPADEC and representatives of students from the various oil-producing ethnic nationalities in the state.
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for approving the 2026 bursary programme, describing the governor as “a blessing to the state.”
Students urged to apply correctly
The launch of the online portal is expected to make the application process easier for eligible students while providing a central platform for submission and verification. https://apply.desopadecbursary.com.ng
Izuokumor urged students to take the process seriously and ensure that their information and supporting documents were correctly provided to avoid disqualification.
The executive director also disclosed that DESOPADEC would commence its annual skills empowerment programme for youths and women across its mandate areas before the end of the year.
Students seek wider coverage
The Chairman of the Confederation of Delta State Oil Producing Ethnic Nationality Students Union, Johnson Aweh, commended DESOPADEC and Izuokumor for ensuring that the 2026 bursary programme became a reality.
Aweh, who represented the Ijaw ethnic nationality, also praised Governor Oborevwori for his support for students in the state.
However, he appealed to DESOPADEC to extend future bursary payments to students of polytechnics and colleges of education.
The commission said eligible students should use its designated online portal to complete their applications as the verification process gets underway ahead of the expected November payment.
