Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) has shortlisted 5,733 candidates nationwide out of 16,000 applicants for the interview stage for the PhD and MSc 2024 scholarships scheme.
Team lead for the PTDF scholarship interview for the southwest zone, Mr Tajudeen Ibiyeye who spoke at the Faculty of Technology Development, Civil Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, disclosed that 953 were shortlisted in the southwest.
He assured of a transparent and open selection process for would-be scholars and beneficiaries of its 2024 scheme.
lbiyeye urged beneficiaries to put patriotism ahead of their personal ambition by ensuring that they return to the country to put to use the knowledge gathered during the course of the programme.
He disclosed 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.
“For the PhD, MSc overseas scholarship programme of the PTDF this year, we have shortlisted over 5,733 candidates nationwide out of over 16,000 candidates that applied for the programme. In the Ibadan centre which I represent, 953 candidates were shortlisted.
“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we have increased the awareness campaign. We’ll make sure that the process is more transparent and that people have more confidence in the programme. Part of what we are doing is to focus on Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda which deals with the transition from fuel to renewable energy and compressed natural gas to know the choice of areas of scholarship 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 research that will provide home-grown solutions to our challenges in the renewable energy sector so as to achieve Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”