Petroleum company launches $10M UG Scholarship Fund

CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) on Wednesday made a financial contribution to the University of Guyana (UG) to support education for primarily Indigenous and other students needing assistance.
The gift amounts to $10 million and provides support for at least three undergraduate scholars for five years each.
The contribution would be administered by the University, and caters to scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEM).

UG Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin received the gift on behalf of the University from President of CPGL, Liu Xiaoxiang. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the company already has an existing cooperation programme with the university to fund tuition for 18 students, nine of whom must be drawn from hinterland communities. She lauded the grant of this additional initiative for being a worthwhile contribution toward the education of underprivileged students and toward the University’s aspirational goal of one graduate per household.
Professor Mohamed Martin noted that CPGL has consistently sought ways of partnering with UG to promote tertiary education, particularly for less fortunate Guyanese students.
She recalled that CPGL is also a partner in the Greater Guyana Initiative under which UG is benefitting from a range of additional initiatives.
President Liu Xiaoxiang thanked the Vice-Chancellor for her cooperation, which has enabled CPGL to fulfill its corporate social responsibility. He observed that notwithstanding the rapid pace of development in Guyana, there is ample room for his Company to support the nation’s development.
Liu further stated that, based on experiences in China, education is the best way to transform the lives of underprivileged families. Thus, it is CPGL’s wish to assist students in need to complete their studies and pursue their dreams.
He noted that this latest gift to the University coincides with the 170th Anniversary of the Arrival of Chinese to Guyana, as well as the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. “This support comes from the bottom of our hearts,” he has said.