PTDF Screens 2,102 PhD Applicants For Overseas Scholarships, Emphasises Innovation

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is currently screening 2,102 PhD applicants nationwide for its Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme, as part of the 2026/2027 selection exercise. The screening, now in its second week, follows last week’s sittings for master’s degree candidates across six zonal centres.
The deputy general manager, Education and Training at PTDF, Dr. Mohammed Bello Mustafa, explained that while the exact number of scholarships will be determined by budgetary provisions and management decisions, the process is guided by the federal character principle. Each state competes for at least one slot, with additional allocations for oil‑producing states. Vacancies arising from candidates who decline or fail to turn up will be filled by the next highest‑ranked applicants from the same state to maintain fairness.
The interviews, which began April 7 and continue nationwide, involve 5,885 shortlisted MSc and PhD candidates selected from over 38,000 applications.

PTDF said it collaborates with universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia for MSc programs, while PhD candidates will participate in a split-site arrangement spending one year abroad and two years at PTDF’s research facility in Kaduna.
On his part, the Benue State Coordinator of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), John Imeje Uchara,
said the commission is actively monitoring the selection exercise to ensure transparency, fairness, equity and balance in the process.
Uchara explained that the monitoring is designed to forestall complaints of marginalisation and imbalance, especially along ethnic, zonal and gender lines.
“We are here to ensure that what PTDF is doing reflects the federal character of the country so there will be no cry or hue from any angle at all,” he said.
So far, he said the exercise has been smooth, with PTDF complying with federal character guidelines and procedural details.

Uchara added that although the final verdict on compliance will depend on the eventual intake profile, early observations indicate that PTDF is conforming to the required principles. He also urged the agency to widen the scope of the exercise, given that about 60,000 candidates applied nationwide. “If they can expand the capacity, more deserving candidates can be carried along,” he said, while commending the high quality of the candidates he has observed so far.
Several candidates showcased high‑impact research proposals aligned with innovation and national development.
One of the applicants Engr. Tanko Fwadwabea, a chemical engineer, presented a project on process simulation for blue hydrogen production, aimed at adding value to Nigeria’s gas resources while capturing carbon emissions.

“So my own dream is to see how Nigeria can add value to the natural gas we have through blue hydrogen production. And the idea is that when you’re producing a hydrogen, for every one ton of hydrogen produced, 12 tons of CO2 is emitted. So this project will be able to capture this emission and make it viable for the country, also help us to meet our climate target, and also our energy transition plan, he said.
Fwadwabea described the PTDF admission interview process as simple and merit‑based, saying only those who qualify are invited and the panel members are friendly, asking relevant questions that bring out the best in candidates. He added that he did not know anyone beforehand, stressing that he was shortlisted purely on merit after applying with credentials including a first degree from the University of Maiduguri, a second degree in Renewable Energy from Kaduna State University, and a master’s in Sustainable Development Studies from the University of Abuja.

Another applicant, Cornelia Collins‑Onuoha, a geoscientist, proposed a study on antimicrobial‑resistant genes in aquatic environments affected by oil pollution, seeking to understand why treatments fail in oil‑impacted communities.
Collins‑Onuoha, said the interview process is civilised and well‑organised this year, noting that scheduling is now prompt and documents are verified quickly, unlike last year when she was shortlisted but not ultimately selected despite securing admission to a UK university. She added that, as a woman in a male‑dominated field, she hopes to use the opportunity to encourage more women to pursue science and plans to leverage her foundation to promote women’s empowerment and greater participation in STEM if she emerges successful.

One of the interview panellists,
Professor Bashir Aliyu of Modibo Adama University Yola, said assessors are focusing on the quality, viability and national relevance of research proposals, as well as candidates’ academic records and professionalism. He noted that many proposals are “the best of the best” and strongly aligned with current oil and gas challenges and global energy transition needs.
He said the panel has identified many highly promising proposals, particularly those aligning with current oil and gas industry challenges and global energy transition trends. PTDF has implemented verification measures to prevent fraudulent documentation, including digital verification of certifications and publications, while maintaining focus on candidates’ potential contributions to Nigeria’s technological advancement.