Petroleum College to cut foreign scholarship expenditure, says PTDF
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says the establishment of the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), will reduce the cost of its scholarship programme. Deputy Manager Services,
- Fund screens 173 Southeast candidates for overseas scheme
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says the establishment of the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), will reduce the cost of its scholarship programme.
Deputy Manager Services, CPESK, Mr. Sirajo Abdullahi-Fari, said this at the inauguration of the 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme candidates screening/selection exercise, on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said the college would run postgraduate programmes in Sciences, Petroleum Technology/Law, and Management, to strengthen local expertise and reduce reliance on external training through transnational partnerships.
Abdullahi-Fari said the students would enjoy local academic mentorship, and exposure to institutions in the United Kingdom including the University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Portsmouth.
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According to him, PTDF is training in universities in the UK, France, China, Malaysia and Germany, to build human and institutional capacity as well as managerial skills in Nigeria’s oil, gas and energy sector.
“The training is to test candidates’ ability to meet national needs in the oil and gas sector, leadership qualities/disposition, good communication skills, clarity of purpose, and suitability for overseas academic programmes,” he said.
On the selection process, Abdullahi-Fari said that 424 candidates, comprising 266 MSc and PhD candidates, would be screened by 21 panellists in the North-East, Bauchi centre.
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He said the exercise is being conducted simultaneously in designated centres across the six geopolitical zones, adding that the final selection would reflect the federal character principle, ensuring equitable representation across states.
Prof. Abubakar Isa-Bello, a panelist, said the exercise was aimed at scrutinising the credentials and assessing candidates’ ability to carry out research, and its impact on the sector and larger society.
He said that each of the panelists conducted individual assessments to ensure credibility.
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“The selection is based on strict criteria, including academic performance, relevant work experience and overall qualifications of applicants,” he said.
He said candidates’ first degrees, secondary school results and other requirements would be assessed to enable them to qualify for the overall evaluation of applicants.
One of the candidates, Atiku Berama, who applied for MSc International Business and Management, lauded the scheme.
Meanwhile, the PTDF has commenced the screening of 173 Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates from the South East zone for Overseas Scholarships Scheme.
The exercise, held at the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), attracted applicants from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
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The PTDF overseas scholarship scheme is part of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives aimed at building indigenous capacity and reducing reliance on foreign expertise in Nigeria’s energy industry.
Speaking during the exercise, Mr Afam Ikwuemesi, Team Lead for the South East Centre for the 2026 interview, said the scholarship scheme was aimed at developing Nigerian professionals in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the scheme focuses on training candidates at the master’s and PhD levels in partnership with institutions located in foreign countries including United Kingdom, Germany, and Malaysia.
“This is a nationwide exercise designed to build capacity in the oil and gas industry.
“Candidates must possess at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) degree and apply for oil and gas-related courses in our partner institutions,” he said.
