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  • FG opens applications for 2026 PTDF-funded overseas scholarship

    FG opens applications for 2026 PTDF-funded overseas scholarship

    The Federal Government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

    The announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the programme offers Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to study abroad.

    According to the post, successful applicants will pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia under the fully funded scholarship scheme.

    “FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post stated.

    Details published on the PTDF scholarship portal show that the scheme is open to MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector. Benefits include full tuition, return air tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.

    The agency said the initiative is designed to strengthen local expertise in the energy sector.

    “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” PTDF said.

    For MSc applicants, eligibility requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower (2.2) degree or higher, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

    PhD applicants are also required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages detailing their objectives, methodology and data collection strategy.

    PTDF explained that PhD candidates studying in the United Kingdom will follow a split-site arrangement, conducting research between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.

    The agency noted that the scholarship is highly competitive and selection will be strictly merit-based.

    “Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said.

    Applicants will be assessed based on academic performance, quality of research proposals, professional memberships and the relevance of their chosen fields to the oil and gas industry.

    PTDF also warned that applicants must verify their National Identity Number (NIN) before applying, adding that multiple submissions or falsified documents would lead to automatic disqualification.

    Interested candidates are to apply online via scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions.

    The deadline for applications is February 27, 2026.

  • PTDF to start PG programmes

    PTDF to start PG programmes

    • *College represents local content policy – PENGASSAN

    The College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK) will commence postgraduate programmes next month.

    Over 2000 applicants have applied and screened to run PhD programmes once it opens its doors to the public next month.

    The college is a premier tertiary institution established by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to enhance indigenous human capacity for the oil and gas industry.

    It is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to operate as a postgraduate degree (MSc and PhD) awarding institution having subsequently secured a license from the National Universities Commission (NUC) following Federal Executive Council approval.

    The institution, which is under the purview of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, was established by Act No. 25 of 1973, amended in 1999, to build human and institutional capacity for Nigeria’s oil, gas, and energy sector players.

    Executive Secretary of PTDF Ahmed Galadima Aminu, during a tour of the facilities with Executive members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna, said the dynamics of sponsoring oil workers abroad at huge cost to the country was responsible for setting up the college.

    He revealed that to date over 15,000 Nigerians have been sponsored by the PTDF for training abroad.

    According to Aminu, the college can pass for silicon valley abroad going by its course contents and international partnerships.

    He revealed that the College is licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as a private postgraduate institution to offer 19 academic programmes across 6 departments and 3 faculties.

    According to him, PTDF has signed strategic partnerships with three United Kingdom universities: University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University and University of Portsmouth for students of the college to complete their programmes in the UK.

    He said: “I am pleased to inform you that the CPESK will admit its first cohort of PhD students in September 2025.

    “We have just concluded screening of applications and successful candidates will soon be admitted into the following faculties: faculty of computing and telecommunication technology; faculty of earth and applied sciences; faculty of energy law and management sciences.

    “These partnerships already secured will support the delivery of a split-site postgraduate model, where students will primarily study at CPESK in Kaduna, with short academic stays at the partner universities in the United Kingdom.”

    President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo who led a delegation to inspect the facilities, described the institution as a practical example of advancing local content in Nigeria.

    Read Also: NNPCL, PTDF sign MoU to deepen technology

    Osifo expressed optimism that with the establishment of the college, funding gaps in training oil and gas workers abroad will be bridged while significantly impacting all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    The PENGASSAN President stated, “Coming here this afternoon, as we were driving in, we thought that we were entering Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    “It’s really a kind of structure that you can find anywhere in the world. Yes, we are here to tour the facility, but we know that even from the short video that was shown to us, we have a glimpse into what is happening here.

    “We know the standards that PTDF has set over the years. We know that the only thing you stand for is excellence. For us, this is one institution that has truly lived to its mandate.

    “This is one institution in Nigeria that has been exemplary. It has demonstrated the fact that when we put our mind and heart to anything we want to do in this country, we can truly succeed. We can truly deliver service to the Nigerian people.

    “This is one of such examples that we are witnessing here today. This building was started in 2013, and this is one of the things that for us at the Oil and Gas, it’s also the fact that we are demonstrating that we don’t abandon projects. When we put our heart into something, irrespective of challenges, we will deliver.

    “I thank you, the Executive Secretary, for ensuring that this project is completed through your time and by September, we are admitting the first PhD set.

    “It is also a practical demonstration of local content. Because when we preach local content, when we say local content, this is local content in action.

    “Now let’s assume you have, let’s say, N20 million to send two people abroad. But with that same money, you could send maybe 10 people to this college, and they would have the same quality of education they could have gotten abroad here.

    “What that means is that we are reaching out to more Nigerians. As you revealed you have trained 15,000 people over the last few years, we strongly believe that with this institution that is ready to kick into action, more Nigerians will be trained.

    “We can’t equate anything to capacity building and human capital development because the development of any nation is as strong and as solid as the human capital such a country has. So for us, we are totally excited to be part of this.”

  • NNPCL, PTDF sign MoU to deepen technology

    NNPCL, PTDF sign MoU to deepen technology

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) – through its Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI) subsidiary – a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to deepen technology-driven solutions in the oil and gas industry.

    President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd, Vice President Sophia Mbakwe, in her remarks at the ceremony in Abuja, noted that the signing reflects the resolve to harness collaboration to address real-world challenges, deliver scalable solutions, and create lasting impacts.

    “The MoU unites our strengths to advance local content, foster technology adoption, and develop the next generation of energy professionals. Together, we will pursue initiatives in research, innovation, skills development, and commercialisation of solutions to address industry challenges,” she added.

    Read Also: Dangote Refinery’s CNG trucks arrive

    PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, described the partnership as a commitment to national progress built on mutual trust and aligned objectives.

    He said: “By leveraging PTDF’s research infrastructure and NNPC Ltd. RTI’s laboratories, we are establishing a robust foundation for collaborative testing, validation, and deployment of breakthrough technologies in areas such as refinery catalyst production, biofuel production, oil and gas drilling operations, and geological mapping.”

    The MoU covers key areas of collaboration, including joint research and development activities, technical support, data and knowledge sharing, infrastructure and innovation hubs, local content development, and capacity building.

  • NNPCL, PTDF sign MoU to deepen technology -driven solutions

    NNPCL, PTDF sign MoU to deepen technology -driven solutions

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) – through its Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI) subsidiary – a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to deepen technology-driven solutions in the oil and gas industry.

    President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd, Vice President Sophia Mbakwe, in her remarks at the ceremony in Abuja, noted that the signing reflects the resolve to harness collaboration to address real-world challenges, deliver scalable solutions, and create lasting impacts.

    “The MoU unites our strengths to advance local content, foster technology adoption, and develop the next generation of energy professionals. Together, we will pursue initiatives in research, innovation, skills development, and commercialisation of solutions to address industry challenges,” she added.

    Read Also: Expert cautions on NNPCL’s pullout from road tax credit scheme

    PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, described the partnership as a commitment to national progress built on mutual trust and aligned objectives.

    He said, “By leveraging PTDF’s research infrastructure and NNPC Ltd. RTI’s laboratories, we are establishing a robust foundation for collaborative testing, validation, and deployment of breakthrough technologies in areas such as refinery catalyst production, biofuel production, oil and gas drilling operations, and geological mapping.” 

    The MoU covers key areas of collaboration, including joint research and development activities, technical support, data and knowledge sharing, infrastructure and innovation hubs, local content development, and capacity building.

  • Over 5,000 candidates jostle for PTDF overseas scholarships

    Over 5,000 candidates jostle for PTDF overseas scholarships

    Over 5,000 candidates yesterday jostled for the overseas scholarship awards of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) nationwide.

    They were shortlisted from the over 29,000 applicants who indicated interest in the scholarship.

    PTDF on Monday commenced the selection interview for the shortlisted over 5,000 candidates for the 2025/26 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS)

    MSc AND Ph.D. awards simultaneously in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Bauchi and Kaduna, being centres for the six geo-political zones.

    Speaking with reporters at PTDF Towers, Abuja, Head, Overseas Scholarship scheme, Bolanle Kehinde Agboola, said, “This year, we had over 29,000 applications from interested candidates. Out of which, we shortlisted about 5,000 candidates, who would be taking the interview nationwide.”

    According to her, the management will decide the number of successful candidates for the scholarship.

     “But the number to be awarded the scholarship will be decided by the management, and it hasn’t been decided,” she said.

    She noted that the panellists who were drawn from the academic and oil and gas industries were already briefed on the guidelines for the selection interview.

    Agboola recalled that the PTDF has been known for its integrity, transparency, and fairness in the scholarship scheme that has been ongoing for about 25 years.

    Read Also: PTDF shortlists 1,643 applicants for 2024/2025 in-country scholarships

    She added that for the exercise, PTDF has put in place various stages of rigorous shortlisting electronically that would help allocate points based on information put in the application by students.

    “We have different stages of shortlisting, and it is a very rigorous and robust process.

    We have put a system in place, electronically, that would help allocate points based on information put in the application by students,” she said.

    Agboola added that “After this, we physically check the information put in the application form and cross-check it with the certificate uploaded.”

  • 1,643 candidates jostle for PTDF in-country scholarship

    1,643 candidates jostle for PTDF in-country scholarship

    No fewer than 1,643 candidates on Monday, October 14, started their interview for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in-country postgraduate scholarship nationwide.

    Speaking with reporters at the exercise in PTDF Tower, Abuja, its head of in-country scholarship, Suraju Abdullahi Fari, said 387 applicants were assessed in the PTDF headquarters in Abuja.

    According to him, the number that will be awarded the scholarship will depend on the approval of the management.

    “We are interviewing about 387 in Abuja here. Across the country is 1643. What we will take will depend on the management’s approval,” he said.

    He said PTDF has the mandate to develop capacity and promote competency in the oil and gas in two ways.

    Fari said PTDF develops the capacity through human capacity development and institution development.

    The postgraduate scholarship, he said, was one of the human capacity development.

    According to him, the PTDF has extended the scope from merely oil and gas to renewable energy development.

    He said: “We have two ways of developing the capacity, we have human and institutional capacity development.

    “This is part of the human capacity development, where we allow Nigeria’s graduates to study in the area of oil and gas because we have a gap in the oil and gas industry.

    “So we give them scholarships in the industry so that we can fill up the gap in the oil and gas industry.

    “Also, we have widened our scope in the different courses of energy, like the renewables.”

    He said the criteria included being a Nigerian citizen, possessing the National Youth Service Corps, and undergoing the screening.

    He added: “They are from engineering, geosciences, environment and management and also computer.”

    Fari said the panelists were drawn from among professors and doctors across the Nigerian universities to ensure transparency.

     He said to ensure adherence to the Federal Character requirements, a representative of the organization was there to monitor the exercise.

    Speaking with reporters, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) representative, Commissioner, Abubakar Atiku Bunu, confirmed his invitation to monitor the exercise to ensure equity and fairness.

    He said: “The agency has invited us to come and monitor the exercise because it is our mandate. And we are here to ensure that fairness and equity are effected in the entire exercise.”

    Read Also: Lokpobiri to PTDF: complete 24 college contracts

    The exercise, he said, must ensure that there is inclusivity for all the states of the federation.

    According to him, candidates normally apply, and merit is always the keyword from the screening.

    Bunu stressed: “Apart from that, we look at the states of the federation, how it will be balanced so that no state will be left behind.”

    Meanwhile, one of the applicants, Tertsea Vandeyoon said the conduct of the exercise was satisfactory.

    “The experience has been so wonderful and the panel has been very considerate,” he said.

  • Minister tasks PTDF to complete 24 college contacts

    Minister tasks PTDF to complete 24 college contacts

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Tuesday, July 16, instructed the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to complete the remaining 24 contracts for the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna.

    Established by the Fund in 2009 for postgraduate training, the college currently operates through the Overseas Scholarships Scheme in Europe and other countries.

    Once fully operational, the college will not only provide training for Nigerian postgraduate students but also for international students, potentially reducing costs.

    During a recent inspection of the college, PTDF Executive Secretary Ahmed Galadima Aminu informed the minister that out of 87 contracts awarded for the college, 63 have been completed, leaving 24 still outstanding.

    Responding, Lokpobiri said: “I believe that the time has come for us to complete whatever outstanding projects, whatever outstanding jobs that we have here so that we will be able to use the limited resources available to government, available to PTDF, to now train a lot more people.”

    The minister also urged Aminu who had said the college has secured a university license from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence postgraduate studies to kick start it.

    He also charged PTDF to finalize discussions with its university partners in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

    He expressed satisfaction with the project, stressing he would not allow the facilities to waste.

    His words: “If we finalize the partnership arrangements we are making with those universities in the UK, in other parts of the world, and I believe the time is now, there is nobody who will walk into this premises that will not be satisfied with the facilities that are here. I can’t allow these facilities to delay further, you know, they will be rusted away.

    “The time is now. Now that you already have your university license to start postgraduate studies, I believe that you need to start with that when I talk to you. The partnership with the universities that are in other parts of the world.”

    Lokpobiri encouraged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and all other government institutions to patronize the college.

    Read Also: Overseas scholarship: PTDF assures on transparent, open selection process

    He said he was eagerly waiting for the Executive Secretary to inform him of the commissioning of the college so that he could invite President Ahmed Tinubu to declare it open.

    He said he must facilitate activities and ensure they go smoothly, within the framework of the law, and in an expeditious manner.

    The minister added: “What is the conclusion I have today is that I have come here today, I have seen, I am impressed with what I’ve seen, and this is a global standard facility that we shouldn’t wait any longer.

    “But now, to put it to real productive use, you know, for the benefits, not just Nigerians, but Africa. You know, a lot of people in African countries that come to Nigeria, you know, to understudy.”

  • Overseas scholarship: PTDF assures on transparent, open selection process

    Overseas scholarship: PTDF assures on transparent, open selection process

    The Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) has assured on transparent, open and stress-free selection process for would be scholars and beneficiaries of its 2024 scholarship scheme.

    The Team Lead for the PTDF scholarship interview for the Southwest zone, Mr Tajudeen Ibiyeye spoke at the Faculty of Technology Development, Civil Engineering Department, University of Ibadan.

    He noted that various innovations had been introduced despite the large volume of applicants to make the process seamless and more rewarding for the applicants in line with the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government. 

    He said out of the over 16, 000 applicants for the PhD and Msc scholarships, 5,733 candidates were shortlisted for the interview stage nationally with 953 shortlisted in the Southwest. 

    Ibiyeye said: “For the PhD, Msc overseas scholarship program of the PTDF this year we have shortlisted over 5,733 candidates nationwide, out of over 16,000 candidates that applied for the program. In Ibadan center which I represent, 953 candidates were shortlisted.

    “In line with President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda, we have increase the awareness, we make sure that the process is more transparent, and we made sure that people have more confidence in the program, and part of what we are doing is to focus on Mr President Renew Hope Agenda which deals with the transition from fuel to renewable energy and Compressed Natural Gas kn the choice of areas of scholarahip works for our scholars.

    “With that we are ensuring that we select more candidates that will help in championing the renewable energy sector and carry out researches that will provide home grown solution to our challenges in the renewable energy sector so as to achieve Mr President’s Renew Hope Agenda.”

    One of the panelists that carried out the interview for the shortlisted applicants, Dr Nuru Makushi said the programme is a major leap for the country to reduce the number of expertrates and foreigners who are dominating the renewable energy, oil and gas sector by providing trainings for Nigerians through scholarship. 

    Makushi, who also benefitted from the overseas scholarship scheme for his Masters and PhD programmes an lectures at the Bayero University, Kano said he decided to return to the country to help contribute his quota to improving manpower despite the various offers he got from abroad after his programmes. 

    Read Also: 8,000 for PTDF overseas scholarship test

    He appealed to those who would benefit from the scheme to also take a leaf from him, adding that aside from signing a bond with the PTDF, patrotism must be played up.

    “I benefitted from the overseas scholarship of the PTDF both for Masters and PhD, I did my Masters in Scotland, Institute of Petroleum, and my PhD was in London, South Bank University. 

    “As an Ex-scholar, we have the experience and the capacity to basically know their technicality and the capacity of many applicants. So we were engaged to participate in this selection committee which even though rigorous but we have recorded successes.

    “PTDF, as a parastatal from the ministry of Petroleum, the idea is to have more capacity building in Nigeria to solve indigenous problems. PTDF sponsors individuals to become experts and specialists in different oil and gas related courses, both in the industrial and academic areas.

    “We select the best applicants. The best are basically those who benefit from the PTDF. we select from the state level, so different applicants from different states are the ones that are selected and are sent overseas o basically have their Masters and PhD programmes, which I believed helps to solve most of our problems in the industries and Academia.

    Speaking on if bond is enough to ensure the scholars return to the country, the ex-scholar said: “Bonds and patriotism are related in some ways built I think, if you are not patriotic, even if you are bonded, you will not return. If you are not patriotic, then there is a problem. If you are bonded you can’t run away, so you have to be patriotic for you to come back to the country. There is so much money and opportunities there but you have to show patriotism to Nigeria.”

    One of the interviewed applicants for the Msc programme, Idowu Adedapo commended the process and the seamless manner with which it was conducted expressing confidence in the transparent and honesty of the panel to shortlist the best hands for the scholarship. 

  • PTDF screens 606 applicants in Bauchi for foreign scholarships

    PTDF screens 606 applicants in Bauchi for foreign scholarships

    The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has shortlisted 606 applicants who are competing for Masters and Ph.D foreign scholarships, for physical screening at the Bauchi centre.

    Speaking at the screening at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU in Bauchi, Suraju Abdullahi Fari, the team lead of the fund, noted that the screening is taking place across six states within the country.

    According to Fari, 606 candidates have been invited for screening for second and third degree programmes.

    Read Also: Foreign portfolios rise by 24% on macroeconomic reforms

    He explained that the applicants were selected through an online application managed by a computerised system and verified by the fund’s independent consultant to ensure transparency.

    Fari stated that the selected applications must focus on oil and gas or renewable energy to address some of the nation’s energy challenges.

    “For transparency and fairness, we conducted the application process online, where initial selections were made by a computer system. These selections were then reviewed by our staff and vetted by independent consultants. We also invited a panel of experts from various universities and industries, including Shell and Chevron,” he said.

    Also, one of the panelists, Dr. Usman Hassan, the Head of Department, Petroleum Engineering, at ATBU, said most of the proposals of the applicants interviewed were relevant to the oil and gas industry.

  • It’s time for Nigerians to displace expatriates in oil sector – PTDF

    It’s time for Nigerians to displace expatriates in oil sector – PTDF

    The interim head of the PTDF-owned College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna, Dr. Munir Sirajo, has emphasized the importance of Nigerians taking on key roles in the country’s oil and gas sector.

    He said that Nigeria’s economy will benefit greatly from having well-trained Nigerians actively involved in the oil and gas industry, which constitutes 80 percent of the country’s revenue.

    Sirajo made the remarks at the College’s Headquarters in Kaduna during the screening exercise for applicants of the 2024 PTDF Post Graduate Scholarship Programme.

    He also highlighted that the scholarship program aims to ensure that Nigerians receive training in managing the country’s oil and gas resources.

    He said: “When oil was discovered in the country, those who managed its facilities were mostly expatriates. So, we feel it is high time Nigerians take up those roles, which we believe is a gradual process.

    “By mandate of Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), which was set up to develop human and technological capacity for the oil and gas industry, one of our cardinal programmes is the oversees scholarship scheme through which Nigerians are trained from various institutions across the globe.”

    Earlier, the PTDF’s Team Lead for the North West Overseas Scholarship Screening Center, Kaduna, Saratu Idris, said 1,707 candidates applied for the scholarship, where 720 were shortlisted, and 189 candidates would be interviewed for the day.

    She listed the scholarship programme to be on certain disciplines which were engineering, computing, Geosciences, environmental, and management sciences.

    She also listed the host countries for the scholarship programmes to be Brazil, France, Malaysia, Germany, and the UK, explaining that some of the processes for the scholarship interview included the involvement of panelists who were mostly scholars.

    One of the panelists, Dr. Hauwa Victoria Ibrahim from Nasarawa State University, commended PTDF’s dedication to ensuring that the right candidates are being selected.

    According to her, “The process ensures that there are three people in each of the eight panels to allow for multiple interviews to give everyone the benefit of being selected and at the same time save time. I am impressed with the qualities of prospective students that applied this year. We have seen demonstrations of excellent research skills because some of them are already proactive they stand out in their fields.

    “The criteria and the steps given to us by the organization allowed fairness. We don’t have access to the applicants and their parents or guardians except during this interview process. The screening has been so transparent.

    Read Also: Foreign scholarships: PTDF pledges transparent process for shortlisted candidates

    “We will try our best to get the best for the scholarship based on the field of their research and prospective career goals and progress as well as reviewing their documents. It’s what we see that we report and that is based on the candidates’ performance,” she said.

    One of the applicants, Rukkaya Muhammad Adam, a graduate of Computer Science from Al-Qalam University, Katsina, said she was inspired to apply for the scholarship because she wants to join the oil and gas sector to contribute her own quota to the industry by way of helping to secure Nigeria’s oil facilities through the use of technology.

    “I want to work in the oil sector as a cyber-analyst to check the illegal activities of oil bunkers who are stealing our common resources. I want to be part of the team securing our facilities with computer technology. I want to contribute to efforts to make our commonwealth work for the masses of Nigeria.”