…National finals to be played next monthin Mbarara.
The Airtel Rising Stars North and West Nile regional qualifier games were held in Gulu town over the weekend. The games were played at different venues in Gulu with the finals being held at Pece Stadium.
The regional games took place on Saturday 12thand Sunday 13thof Septemberwith Destiny Sports Academy (boys from Northernregion), King James (girls from Northern region) andAdjumani boys (boys from West Nile region), Adjumani Girls (girls from West Nile region) emerging as the winning teams from the two regions.
The Winning teams for both boys and girls from the East and North Eastern regions, won trophies, certificates, balls, kits and cash prize of UGX 1,000,000 each. While the boys’ and girls’first runners up, took home trophies, certificates, and a cash of UGX 500,000 each.
King James team celebrates with their trophy.
The boys and girls that exhibited remarkable talent were selected from the different regional teams to represent their regions in the national championships to take place in Mbarara inOctober.
Speaking at the games in Gulu, Airtel Uganda Brands Assets and Properties Executive, Musa Mayanja, said; “Airtel is dedicated to nurturing young talent through the Under 17 grassroots football initiative that enables us to reach out to the youth.”
“It is our desire to see young people live their dream and soccer is one of our major platforms in doing so.This soccer tournament provides this opportunity to the youngsters and creates a great opportunity for the players to engage more in the game,” Mayanja added.
The Airtel Rising Stars football initiative is the the biggest Under-17 grassroots tournament on the African continent and aims at identifying talent and nurturing upcoming footballers. This is one of the few football equal opportunity initiatives that targets boys and girls. Over the years, the Airtel Rising Stars initiative has yielded many success stories and has enabled several upcoming soccer talents to join Africa Premier League clubs and their countries’ national teams.
The West Nile and Northern regional games mark the end of the countrywide regional qualifiers that have witnessed action through every part of the country.Airtel, currently the largest supporter of youth football on the continent, has partnered with FUFA to ensure that football regulations are followed in Uganda.
Gen. Aronda during his handover to new CDF Gen. Katumba Wamala.
Gen. Aronda during his handover to new CDF Gen. Katumba Wamala.
The shocking news of Gen. Aronda’s death must have jolted everyone that new him and I was no exception. Even though, as a medical doctor, I am familiar with the phenomenon of sudden death, when it happens to someone you know well, it’s quite startling.
I know how much worse it must be for those who lived and worked closely with the General. My thoughts and sympathy especially go to his family, relatives, workmates and close friends.
I have known Gen. Aronda since mid 1982, when we met in Mondlane Unit of the National Resistance Army (NRA). The Unit was then situated at Kitemamasanga, near Semuto, about 45 km north of Kampala.
The young and slender man that I met then had just completed his university degree and his demeanour has remained the same till his passing. He was soft-spoken, humble, rather shy, but with steely determination.
I undertook my first military training with Gen. Aronda and other recruits, mainly, his colleagues from Makerere University. These included Maj .Gen. Benon Biraro and several others that have since passed on.
Our instructors were especially rough with us. They had a perception that “intellectuals”, as our type was referred to, were too “soft” and needed extra hardening to prepare us for the bush war life. Gen Aronda took all the maltreatment with grace, while some of the colleagues tempers boiled over.
The tough and often dire times of the bush war had turned us into blood brothers and sisters. Many comrades succumbed to the tough times and some barely scrapped through those times. Gen. Aronda’s steely determination brought him to the end of the war in “one piece”.
I trained with Gen. Aronda again in 1990, when we did our Officers’ Basic Course (OBC) in Bombo. The six-month course, under Tanzanian (TPDF) instructors, was even much tougher than our bush training. Once again, Gen. Aronda withstood the tough conditions and performed very well.
Since my retirement from the UPDF in 2000, I didn’t have much interaction with Gen. Aronda. Serving military officers are generally very uncomfortable, even scared, to be seen talking to political opposition leaders of my type! This is because of the fear of being “misunderstood” to be sympathetic to their views.
Whenever I’ve chanced into Gen. Aronda, he was polite and thoughtful in whatever he said. He has been full of life and was still in the prime years of his life. He was highly disciplined in his personal life.
In most of our Ugandan cultures, every death causes relatives and friends to speculate on where the evil hand came from. There is a saying in Ruhororo that “Tihaine omufu atarogwa”, meaning that every dead person was bewitched.
Even in the best of times, sudden death raises strong suspicion of possible foul play. Yet, Gen. Aronda’s death happened in times that cannot be remotely considered as good. It occurred against a background of many suspicious deaths of high-ranking government and military officials.
It also happened against a background of a specific warning that his life could be in eminent danger. The concerns spelt out in the Gen Sejusa’s letter, which triggered serious fallout in government security circles cannot be ignored, when such a death occurs.
It’s prudent that all possible angles relevant to the inevitable investigation into the cause and circumstances surrounding Gen. Aronda’s death are explored. This is important for the family, the government and the country at large. It’s wrong to hush up any information that may have relevance to establishing the cause of death.
Gen. Aronda was a fine officer and a gentleman, who, like a number of his colleagues, was serving in a very difficult and nefarious environment. He has endeavoured to serve his country well. At the time of his death, he had stuck his head out to push back the notorious illegal militia of Maj (rtd) Kakooza Mutale.
My heartfelt condolences go the widow and children, the family members, relatives, the NRA/UPDF comrades and all friends.
I pray that the Almighty God rests his soul in eternal peace. AMEN.
IGP. Gen. Kayihura says they have identified Mbabazi trouble makers whom they will arrest. Kayihura also says Mbabazi too will not be spared if he continues to break the law in the guise of consultation.
IGP. Gen. Kayihura says they have identified Mbabazi trouble makers whom they will arrest. Kayihura also says Mbabazi too will not be spared if he continues to break the law in the guise of consultation.
The National Electoral Commission has invited all the presidential aspirants for a meeting on Monday Sept 14, 2015.
The meeting is intended to warn those violating the law as the aspirants go out to seek signatures or consult their supporters.
Addressing a joint press conference on Saturday Sept 12, 2015, EC commissioners led by their chairman Eng. Badru kiggundu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura and Attorney General Fred Ruhindi warned that government won’t hesitate to arrest or de register such candidates as they violate EC guidelines in the name of consult as they carry out rallies.
“Consultation means exchange of views with those you consult with but holding a microphone and addressing a rally in the guise of consulting isn’t same. Some aspirants are not respecting the law as they distribute campaign materials. However, EC cautions those doing so to respect the law” Eng. Badru Kiggundu said.
He added “And in that regard, we have invited all the aspirants on Monday Sept 14, for a dialogue with them for consultation before we think of any action.”
Police chief, Gen. Kayihura said police has been lenient with the activities of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi as he has already broken sections of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) warning that any of such activities will be dealt with.
“From our intelligence all the rest of the aspirants are doing well apart from one individual. Even Besigye cannot campaign now until he is dully nominated by the EC. However, aspirants cannot campaign now but only consult.
On his part, Mr Ruhindi advised all the aspirants to conduct their activities within the mandate of the POMA warning that those that divert from the Act will face the law.
Kayihura also signaled out the Jinja fracas which he attributed to the unrelenting supporters of Mbabazi saying they have spotted the ring leaders whom they want to arrest to face the law.
“I want to thank the police both in Soroti and Jinja for remaining calm amidst provocation and insults from his supporters and Kanyamas. In fact we are going to arrest those ones.
The National Electoral Commission has invited all the presidential aspirants for a meeting on Monday Sept 14, 2015.
The meeting is intended to warn those violating the law as the aspirants go out to seek signatures or consult their supporters.
Addressing a joint press conference on Saturday Sept 12, 2015, EC commissioners led by their chairman Eng. Badru kiggundu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura and Attorney General Fred Ruhindi warned that government won’t hesitate to arrest or de register such candidates as they violate EC guidelines in the name of consult as they carry out rallies.
“Consultation means exchange of views with those you consult with but holding a microphone and addressing a rally in the guise of consulting isn’t same. Some aspirants are not respecting the law as they distribute campaign materials. However, EC cautions those doing so to respect the law” Eng. Badru Kiggundu said.
He added “And in that regard, we have invited all the aspirants on Monday Sept 14, for a dialogue with them for consultation before we think of any action.”
Police chief, Gen. Kayihura said police has been lenient with the activities of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi as he has already broken sections of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) warning that any of such activities will be dealt with.
“From our intelligence all the rest of the aspirants are doing well apart from one individual. Even Besigye cannot campaign now until he is dully nominated by the EC. However, aspirants cannot campaign now but only consult.
On his part, Mr Ruhindi advised all the aspirants to conduct their activities within the mandate of the POMA warning that those that divert from the Act will face the law.
Kayihura also signaled out the Jinja fracas which he attributed to the unrelenting supporters of Mbabazi saying they have spotted the ring leaders whom they want to arrest to face the law.
“I want to thank the police both in Soroti and Jinja for remaining calm amidst provocation and insults from his supporters and Kanyamas. In fact we are going to arrest those ones.
‘An officer and gentleman’ is a phraseology normally used to extol a member of the armed forces who excels in his work. And to many, Gen. Robert Aronda Nyakairima, multi linguist and teetotaler, was one such officer.
Gen. Aronda died in Dubai on September 11, 2015 while returning from official duty from South Korea.
Gen. Aronda was born on July 7 1959 in Rukungiri district and was married to Linda Kahoza, a daughter of Mr James Kahoza, a former Auditor General of Uganda. In 1989 Gen. Aronda was also a Bestman for Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
For friends and relatives 1982 marked a turning point in Gen. Aronda’s life when he joined the then guerilla outfit, the National Resistance Army at the tender age of 22, after completing a degree in Political Science at Makerere University in 1981.
In the NRA Aronda rose through the ranks and at the capture of Kampala he was an Intelligence Officer at the rank of Junior Officer One (JOI (attached to the Central Police Station in Kampala.
Subsequently he attended several military courses both at home and abroad including at the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo and at the prestigious Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, USA and, in October 2010 he was inducted in the Hall of Fame of the Lewis and Clarke Centre of the Academy, joining Generals Richard Rhyes of New Zealand and Eui Don Wang of South Korea, both of who had attained the highest position in the militaries of their respective countries.
Earlier, Gen. Aronda had served in the then Presidential Protection Unit as an Intelligence Officer, before rising to become its Commanding Officer at the rank of Major.
He was then transferred to the Masaka Armoured Brigade as Commanding Officer, and later appointed Division 4 Commander in Gulu, to head Operation Iron Fist.
Gen. Aronda was a best-man to Rwanda’s strongman Paul Kagame.
In 1996 he was appointed one of the 10 army representatives in Parliament and in 2003 he was appointed the Commander of the UPDF, serving in that position for 10 years, after which he was named the Minister of Internal Affairs in May 2013.
The late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima has been mourned by several dignitaries including Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, fellow military officers, diplomats and Members of Parliament, who have taken to social medial to express their grief.
Outgoing US Ambassador to Uganda Scott H. DeLisi
“I was deeply saddened to learn this morning of the sudden passing of Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Aronda Nyakairima. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. Gen. Aronda was one of the first senior leaders I met in Uganda over three years ago. He cared deeply for his nation and its future. We shared many cups of tea and meals together as we discussed ideas and issues in a spirit of true partnership and cooperation. Even when we had different perspectives, the friendship and values we shared allowed us to move forward constructively. He will be missed as a leader, and as a friend.”
Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Sempala
“Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, Minister for internal Affairs, Rest in Peace! A real gentleman if there was one! Humble, no airs, no pomp and one who felt that politics was dirty! He served well, at least in Parliament where I have served with him! He always had thoughtful responses to questions from MPs on his Ministry! Fare thee well!”
Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba: “I am extremely saddened at the untimely passing of our long time commander and leader, General Aronda Nyakairima. RIP.” (Via Twitter)
Presidential Media Assistant Don Wanyama: Rest in peace good General. I met you a couple of times, once for about two hours for a private chat, and your humility, affability and warmth were unmistakable. Rest in peace Gen Aronda Nyakairima.
Sarah Kagingo: General Aronda has run his race; meticulously served his country, the East African Community and Africa at large. To God we will all return. May this comfort his beloved family and countrymen. Rest in peace, General.
Matthew Bagonza: Whatever Gen. Aronda tried to do in life, he tried with all his heart to do well; that whatever he devoted himself to, He devoted himself to completely; that in great aims and in small, He has always been thoroughly in earnest.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Rwanda Richard Kabonero: Tremendous loss of a patriot and freedom fighter
East African Secretary General Richard Sezibera: So saddened to learn of the death of my Comrade Gen. Aronda Nyakairima. The soldiers in the trenches of African integration salute you. RIP!
Hilary Onek-My young Brother and colleague in cabinet Gen. Aronda Nyakairima why did you have to leave us this early? I can’t think straight right now and am still failing to come in terms with the fact the the Good Lord has put you to sleep. You have done your country proud and your good deeds for this country will never be forgotten. Sleep well my friend.
ORDERED DEPORTATION?: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, upon the death of Internal Affairs Minister General Aronda Nyakairima.
“To my brother @KagutaMuseveni may God comfort you as Uganda mourns the death of wazir General Aronda Nyakairima” Kenyatta wrote in a tweet earlier today.
Gen Nyakairima 56, died of heart attack in Dubai while returning from official duty in South Korea.
Gen Nyakairima joined Museveni’s National Resistance Army in 1982, after completing his studies at Makerere University. He has served the army in various capacities, rising up to becoming the Chief of Defence Forces, the highest ranking officer of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF).
In a related development Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has also mourned the later Gen Nyakairima, saying: “General Aronda Nyakairima, who also served the country as Chief of Defence Forces was a dedicated servant of the people of Uganda and his death is a huge and tragic loss to the country,” Dr Rugunda said in a statement.
In the statement Dr Rugunda added: “we extend our deep condolences to the family and friends of General Aronda during this most trying period and pray that the Almighty comforts them.”
The premier also said the government had set up a task force led by Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga to coordinate all matters related to the death of Gen Aronda Nyakairima, before revealing that a team of pathologists would be sent to Dubai to assist with the post mortem.
Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Aronda Nyakairima has died.
He has died of cardiac arrest on a plane from korea to Dubai.
According to the Director of Immigration at the ministry of Internal Affairs Geoffrey Sasaga, Gen. Aronda had travelled on official duty and was in a health condition.
The ministry of Internal Affairs also announced on the social media networks his death but said details would follow later.
“We regret to announce the death of Gen. Aronda Nyakairima who has been Minister of Internal Affairs” reads the statement from the Internal Affairs Ministry.
According to the Twitter handle of Special Forces Command (SFC) Commander, Brig. Muuhoozi Kainerugaba he said “I am extremely saddened at the untimely passing of our long time commander and leader, General Aronda Nyakairima. RIP.”
Whos is Gen. Aronda Nyakairima
According to Wikipedia, He served in the army before joining Cabinet of Uganda as Minister of Internal Affairs in 2013. Previously he was Chief of Defense Forces, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). And it is under him as CDF that Uganda was pacified of internal wars and the last being the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) of Joseph Kony.
He joined the National Resistance Army in 1982, soon after leaving Makerere. After the NRA captured power, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Ugandan military. He later was appointed Assistant Director in the Directorate of Military Intelligence in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF).
He was then transferred to the Presidential Protection Unit as an Intelligence Officer. From there, he served as the Commanding Officer of the Armored Brigade before his appointment as Commander of the UPDF in 2003. He has represented the UPDF in theUgandan Parliament since 1996.
In October 2010, General Nyakairima was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States of America, for attaining the highest position in the military of his country.
Nyakairima, a 1993 graduate of Fort Leavenworth, was inducted together with General Eui Don Wang of South Korea, a 1986 graduate of the command college, and Major General Richard Rhys Jones of New Zealand, a 1992 graduate.
Nyakairmina was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Internal Affairs on May 23, 2013. Gen. Katumba Wamala was appointed to replace him as Chief of Defence Forces on the same day.
The Irish government has released 900,000 Euros to feed school-going children in Karamoja and for South Sudan refugees in northern Uganda.
According to the Irish Embassy in Uganda, half of the money that is channeled through the United Nations World food Programme (WFP) will cater for 100,000 Karamojong children, while the other half will help about 150,000 South Sudan refugees living in transit centres and settlements.
Currently, Uganda hosts its biggest ever number of refugees, estimated at about 500.000, seventy per cent of who are supported by the WFP.
WFP will use the committed funds to buy food for use in its shool meals and refugee assistance programmes, including beans and maize grains grown locally in Uganda from small-scale farmer groups. These initiatives are expected to increase school enrolment, retention and completion rates in Karamoja, and to improve nutrition for the refugees in West Nile.
“School feeding is one of the ways WFP is working with the Government to fill food gaps among the most vulnerable households,” said WFP’s Michael Dunford said, adding: “The Programme also encourages children to enroll and stay in school, and therefore invest in their futures.”
The Irish Ambassador to Uganda Donal Cronin noted that his country usually responds to the critical humanitarian needs of vulnerable people and societies.
“Ireland has a strong tradition of generously responding to people in need. Now that the food security situation in Karamoja is at a critical point at this time, and the number of refugees is high, Irish Aid and the Irish Embassy are pleased to be able to respond to this urgent need in partnership with WFP and the Government of Uganda,” Amb Cronin said.
He added: “In our valued partnership with the Government of Uganda this support is a strong to our other areas of development assistance in Uganda in social protection, HIV and AIDS, education and good governance sectors.”
About five hundred German investors are eying business prospects in Africa, with 50 high net worth investors eyeing the East Africa region.
Republic of German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, H.E. Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera EAC Secretary General and Heads of Delegation from Africa Regional Economic Communities
The intentions were made at the just-concluded 1st German Africa Business Summit on September 7-8 in Berlin, attended by among others the EAC Secretary General Ambassador Richard Sezibera, who highlighted the many attractive investment features in the EAC.
Speaking an exceptional East Africa Community investor’s forum held at the closing of the summit Dr Sezibera emphasized that a growing population of about 150m people and the highest level of economic integration achieved in Africa by the EAC were two key areas any serious investor would consider when scouting for the most attractive business prospects.
Meanwhile, delivering a key note address Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized the need to move towards economic cooperation with Africa, away from the traditional development cooperation.
‘Economic cooperation will create jobs, reduce illegal migration, poverty levels and increase the market share of German businesses operating in Sub Saharan Africa,’ Dr Steimeier was quoted as saying.
While hosting the heads of delegations from the African Regional Economic Communities that included Amb Sezibera, the Deputy Chairperson of African Union Erastus Mwencha, the President of ECOWAS Kadre Quedraogo and the Deputy Executive Secretary of Southern African Development Community Dr. Mbinkosi Mhlongo, Dr Steinmeier also highlighted the importance of including Digital Agenda in the current development cooperation frameworks.
The AREC heads of delegations also discussed how to combat illegal immigration, terrorism and how to improve governance with Dr Steinmeier.
Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera EAC Secretary General and H.E. Dr. Horst Kohler Former President of the Federal Republic of Germany
Dr Steinmeier also commended the reforms achieved by the EAC that included the Customs Union, Common Market and the path towards the Monetary Union.
And, participating at the ‘Panel of Honour’ Dr Sezibera urged Europe to contribute to Africa’s growth through strong economic partnerships and also expressed appreciation for the financial and technical assistance accorded to the EAC through the yearly contribution to the partnership fund, construction of the EAC headquarters in Arusha and visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck to EAC headquarters earlier this year.
Courtesy call to the former President of Germany
Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary General also paid a courtesy call on the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Horst Kohler, and hailed him for his support in helping German companies set up businesses in the EAC region.
Dr Sezibera also extended an invitation to Dr. Kohler to deliver a keynote address during the upcoming Academia Public Private Partnership Forum organized by the Inter-University Council of East Africa that will be held from October 22nd – 23rd in Kampala, an invitation which the former President accepted.
On his part, Dr Koher hailed the reforms done by EAC to improve the business climate and to make it easier for German business community to enter the market.
He also noted that EAC region has to improve its vocational training for the young people, as the region gears up to became the manufacturing hub for Africa.
Dr Kohler emphasized that the German – Africa Business Summit was a noble initiative, which he expects to bridge the information gap existing between German entrepreneurs and potential African business partners.
New Strategic Partnership between EAC-EABC and German Africa Business Association
EAC Secretary General held a consultative meeting with the Chairman of German Africa Business Association Dr. Stefan Liebing and Manager for Eastern Africa Asmau Nitardy. During the discussion Amb Sezibera noted that EAC region has a positive perception of German made products and the German business community should take advantage and set up operations in the region.
He added that the region offers some of the best incentives through preferential trade agreements for exports to European markets and US market.
H.E. Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera EAC Secretary General and Dr. Stefan Liebing Chairman German Africa Business Association
Dr Liebing expressed an interest in setting up a business information exchange portal between German and East Africa Businesses. The portal will exchange information on tenders available in the region and any new infrastructure projects.
He disclosed that German small and medium enterprises that employ between 1,500 – 5,000 staff members lacked information about business opportunities available in East Africa.
Dr Liebing also informed the EAC delegation of their strategic plan to start offering bundled solutions to private and public sector organizations in East Africa. This will allow them to compete with their counter parts from Asia.
EAC and the German Africa Business Association delegation agreed to set up a steering team that will conclude on a memorandum of understanding for creating a solid partnership in three core areas i.e. renewable energy, agro chemicals and fertilizer, and pharmaceuticals.
East Africa Community investor’s forum
The Regional Director for Sub Saharan Africa for the Federal Republic of German Government Mr. Georg Schmidt hosted an investors’ forum for the EAC and noted that the organisation is a shining example of a successful regional economic community in Africa and his conception of the expanded region would either include Somalia, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan or Madagascar.
According to the investors EAC needs to sort out four key challenges to become the most attractive regional economic community in Africa among German investors; streamline border operations, regular engagement with German investors, improve ranking on the ease of doing-business report and fast track full implementation of the Common Market Protocol.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Katumba Wamala has warned serving army officers against participating in partisan politics.
The Constitution of Uganda is very clear on electioneering, detailing all the processes regarding one’s eligibility to contest for any political position.
For serving army officers, to be able to run for any political office, they must resign and then officially get retired from the forces while for civil servants, they resign at the stipulated time, which is not less than three months.
Recently, there were reports of a certain serving army officer who was recruiting ‘vigilantes’ allegedly to guard the votes of his choice candidate. Because of his decision, a certain politician also decided to ‘recruit’ a group of youth, ostensibly to counter the vigilantes recruited by the army officer. One would shudder to imagine the outcome of a chance meeting between these two groups!
Also, it is still puzzling how a member of the security forces or the public for that matter, can carry out recruitment of intending belligerent groups without attracting the attention of the authorities.
Going by the numbers of recruits mentioned, one would also wonder where they get food and other day-to-day essentials that are necessary for their survival in the camps, where they undergo rigorous training.
That noted, as the country gears up for the 2016 elections, it is important that such groups are reined in, with the leaders facing punitive action that will serve as deterrence to others who may wish to hold the country at ransom in the future.
For it is only when the law is evoked that the country will be able to hold peaceful, free and fair elections in 2016.
Mark Richardson, Apache North Sea’s projects group manager
The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) has pledged further educational funding of up to £50,000 over the next 12 months in order to sustain a high level of skills across the global industry.
Mark Richardson, Apache North Sea’s projects group manager
Around 276 beneficiaries globally have benefited from the Educational Support Fund (ESF) with awards totalling around £750,000. The funding relies entirely on donations from the support of SUT’s individual and corporate members.
The ESF offers sponsorship awards to high-calibre undergraduate and postgraduate students, either starting or continuing a degree which embraces at least one relevant component area of subsea/offshore engineering, marine science, or underwater technology.
Mark Richardson, Apache North Sea’s projects group manager, is a former beneficiary of the funding and believes he would not be where he is without the support of the ESF.
He said: “After leaving the military, I was uncertain about what my next step would be. The funding was invaluable to me advancing with offshore engineering at university. It proved the launch pad for my career, opened so many doors and I would recommend anyone with an interest in the industry to apply.
“I am a great supporter of using my own knowledge and experience in mentoring young people and the SUT is doing a fantastic job re-investing in the next generation.”
Aligned with Offshore Europe’s theme of ‘How to Inspire the Next Generation’, the grants are open to any student, irrespective of age or nationality, for study at any course in the world which is approved by the society. The SUT also encourages entry into the industry at a younger age, with school lectures which are delivered from primary stage through to secondary level.
Stephen Hall, Head International & Strategic Partnerships, National Oceanography Centre, and chair of SUT’s education and training committee said: “We are committed to maintaining high standards in underwater technology and marine science. To sustain the specialised skills needed for this sector, we need to maintain and increase the level of support that will attract the most talented students from around the world. These high-calibre students have a passion to learn and we need to help them realise their fullest potential.”
Mr Hall added: “We also encourage continuous development of skills through a range of training and awareness courses; our Subsea Awareness Course has gained a glowing reputation for its content and delivery around the world.”
