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Hoima — Oil exploration company, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC Uganda) recently rewarded best performing students in the oil rich Hoima district.
This is in a bid to encourage competitive learning and skills development among schools and students.
The Chinese firm under the program CNOOC Best Performers Award gave Ushs31 million (about $12,109) in prize money and schools support to 90 best performers in last year's Primary Leaving Examination, Uganda Certificate of Education and Uganda Advance Certificate of Education.
Kabagambe Kalisa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development said the country needs more skilled people to work in the growing oil industry. He thanked CNOOC for their gesture.
He said the government, through the National Oil and Gas Policy, is focusing on national participation and technical skills development in achieving the set goals in the oil and gas industry.
"The oil industry is an industry of knowledge. Either you know or you don't know. People have to be aware and they have to learn," Kalisa said.
He said while students undertaking science subjects stand a higher chance to benefit from the oil boom, the oil industry value-chain also includes art subjects for such jobs as managing finance, law, management and other services.
A total of 30 UACE, received a cash bounty of Ushs750, 000 ($292), Ush500, 000 ($195) and Ush375, 000 ($146) for the first five best, second seven best and third eight best positions, respectively. The top 30 UCE students received Ush500, 000 ($195, Ushs375, 000($146) and Ush250, 000 ($97) each for the best five, second best ten and third best fifteen respectively.