The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned Nigerians to beware of fraudsters offering fake postgraduate scholarships.
Scammers are asking people to pay money for fake scholarships under the name of the NDDC. They claim to help applicants secure spots in a foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme run by the Commission.
The warning came in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NDDC.
“The attention of the NDDC has been drawn to fraudulent emails and messages sent to applicants of the commission’s Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship Programme,” she said.
She revealed that the fake emails are coming from an address: nddcregistry@gmail.com. They falsely claim to be from the NDDC’s “Board Registry.”
“They are inviting people to attend a fake document verification and authentication exercise,” she said.
The email says the fake exercise will take place from May 19 to May 21 at Bishop Oluwole Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Only Use the Official NDDC Scholarship Website
Thompson-Wakama made it clear that this is not an NDDC programme.
“Members of the public are hereby advised that the NDDC has no affiliation with this fraudulent selection process,” she warned.
She explained that the Commission only sends official updates and messages through its website:
👉 www.scholarship.nddc.gov.ng
“Applicants are strongly advised to disregard any unsolicited messages requesting money, invitation, sensitive information, or offering scholarship placements outside of the official NDDC procedures,” she said.
The fake messages are not just trying to deceive hopeful applicants but are also stealing their personal data.
Thompson-Wakama urged Nigerians to stay alert and protect themselves. She also advised them to report suspicious emails to law enforcement immediately.
“We also advise former beneficiaries of the commission’s programmes and prospective applicants to verify all information through the NDDC’s official website: www.nddc.gov.ng,” she added.
Past Scholarship Scams in Nigeria
This warning adds to a growing number of scholarship-related scams across Nigeria. In recent years, fake scholarship announcements have targeted students hoping to study abroad, especially in the UK, Canada, and Europe.
Cybercrime units within the Nigerian Police Force have tracked some of these scams to local fraud rings. Many scammers use free email platforms and social media to reach desperate applicants.
Security experts advise that any scholarship scheme requesting ₦ for processing or verification is likely fake. They recommend verifying offers with the appropriate institution or government agency.
The NDDC has funded real scholarship programmes in the past. Its foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme supports students from the Niger Delta region who wish to pursue master’s or PhD degrees abroad in fields like engineering, environmental science, and medicine.
Thompson-Wakama reminded the public that real NDDC scholarships are always advertised openly and follow a transparent, competitive process.
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