DESOPADEC Opens 2026 Bursary Portal for Students in Oil-Producing Areas

The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has launched its 2026 bursary application portal, giving eligible indigent students from its mandate areas an opportunity to apply for financial assistance towards their tertiary education.

The online platform was officially opened on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the DESOPADEC headquarters.

Declaring the portal open, the Commission’s Executive Director, Social Services, Chief Favour Izoukumor, said the bursary scheme was part of DESOPADEC’s continued investment in education and human capital development across its mandate areas.

Izoukumor said the initiative reflected the commitment of the DESOPADEC Board, led by Chairman Chief Barr. John Nani, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Festus Ochonogor, to supporting students and easing the financial burden on families.

He explained that the DESOPADEC Chairman and Managing Director would have attended the launch but were unable to do so because of other official engagements.

DESOPADEC bursary targets students amid economic hardship

Izoukumor described DESOPADEC as a major interventionist agency committed to responding to the needs of communities within its mandate areas.

He said the Commission’s education-focused interventions were particularly important at a time when rising economic pressures were making it increasingly difficult for families to meet the financial demands associated with tertiary education.

According to him, DESOPADEC has continued to implement programmes designed to improve the welfare of its people and provide young people with opportunities to pursue their educational and career ambitions.

He also commended Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for supporting the 2026 bursary scheme, describing the governor as student-friendly and supportive of educational development.

Izoukumor said the state government’s budgetary support and necessary approvals had contributed to the smooth implementation of the programme.

Who can apply for DESOPADEC 2026 bursary?

The Commission said applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to benefit from the scheme.

Eligible students must:

• Be indigenes of Delta State, particularly from communities within DESOPADEC’s oil-producing mandate areas.
• Be undergraduates of recognised universities in Nigeria or abroad.
• Be 200-level students or above.
• Possess a valid student identity card.
• Provide a valid letter of admission.
• Provide two recent passport photographs.

DESOPADEC urged students who meet the requirements to carefully study the application guidelines and submit their applications through the designated online platform.

How to apply for the DESOPADEC 2026 bursary

Eligible students can access the application portal through the DESOPADEC Bursary Website: DESOPADEC Bursary Application Portal

Students are advised to confirm their eligibility and carefully follow the application instructions before submitting their forms.

Izoukumor disclosed that the 2026 DESOPADEC bursary application portal would remain open for three weeks, after which applications would no longer be accepted.

He therefore encouraged eligible students not to wait until the deadline before submitting their applications.

The Executive Director said the bursary was designed to help reduce some of the financial barriers facing students in tertiary institutions and forms part of DESOPADEC’s broader human capital development programme.

Students commend DESOPADEC, Oborevwori

Earlier, members of the Executive Council of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Students Association expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for supporting the scheme.

The association, which represents students from the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika ethnic groups, also commended Izoukumor for driving the initiative and the DESOPADEC Board for sustaining educational support for students from its mandate areas.

The launch of the portal marks another step by DESOPADEC towards expanding access to educational support and investing in the future of young people across Delta State’s oil-producing communities.