PTDF Unveils Human Capital Development Plan to Support Tinubu’s $1trn Economy

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has unveiled a human capital development strategy designed to support the federal government’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030, through investment in specialised education, technical skills and energy research.

The executive eecretary of PTDF, Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, disclosed this at a press conference on Friday in Kaduna, held at the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Science and Engineering Technology.

He said the Fund was aligning its programmes with the 2026–2030 National Development Plan to build a highly skilled workforce for Nigeria’s oil, gas and emerging energy sectors.

According to him, the Fund’s efforts are anchored on the continued support of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its GDP target.

He said: “We wish to emphasise that the achievements of PTDF are deeply rooted in the continuous support and strategic guidance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the 2026–2030 National Development Plan target of $1 trillion GDP economy.”

Prof. Aliyu explained that the strategy centres on building local capacity, reducing capital flight, strengthening research institutions, and supplying manpower for major energy infrastructure projects.

He described the Fund’s long-term goal as producing a workforce “trained in Nigeria, employed in Nigeria, and, by choice, exported to serve the broader African energy industry.”

According to him, the two flagship institutions of the PTDF: the Centre for Skills Development and Training in Port Harcourt, and the newly renamed General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Science and Engineering Technology in Kaduna, formerly known as the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, would aid the Localisation of manpower training thereby reducing the foreign exchange spent on its Masters and doctorate degrees scholarships abroad.

Aliyu clarified that the name change did not alter the institution’s core vision and objectives. He said the Port Harcourt centre offers internationally recognised vocational and technical training for technicians, artisans and craftsmen across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, with certifications in welding, fabrication, instrumentation and offshore safety.

The Kaduna university, he added, recently licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run postgraduate programmes, delivers advanced education and research through partnerships with universities in the United Kingdom. He called the institution a strategic catalyst for economic growth through local technical expertise and foreign exchange conservation.

To cut reliance on overseas education, Aliyu said PTDF had expanded its split-site doctoral programme, which allows scholars to complete part of their studies locally and the rest with partner universities abroad, noting that this approach preserves foreign exchange while maintaining international academic standards.

“This initiative reduces capital flight while strengthening local institutions and maintaining international academic standards,” he said.

He also disclosed that the university was being digitised to improve administrative efficiency and support blended learning.

Aliyu said PTDF had aligned its training programmes with major national energy projects, including the AKK Gas Pipeline, UTM Floating LNG, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, Bonga Southwest Aparo, Owowo, Zabazaba-Etan, OB3 Gas Trunk Line, Olokola LNG, and Dangote-linked projects, among others, to ensure Nigeria has the skilled workforce needed for future energy investments.

“Our long-term vision is to develop a workforce that is trained in Nigeria, employed in Nigeria, and, by choice, exported to serve the broader African energy industry,” he said.

He said the Fund was also deepening international partnerships with bodies such as the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Sonatrach of Algeria, Saudi Aramco and Turkish Petroleum, to promote knowledge transfer, research and innovation.

Aliyu announced the inauguration of a nine-member committee to review the university system.

The committee, given three weeks to submit its report, has been tasked with reviewing the institution’s mandate, vision and strategic objectives; assessing the condition of its physical infrastructure; evaluating the efficiency and return on investment of its digital systems, laboratories and research facilities; and examining the relevance of its academic programmes against national and global trends in the petroleum and energy sectors.

He said the committee’s recommendations were expected to reposition the institution as a globally competitive centre of excellence in petroleum, energy and strategic technology.

On behalf of the Fund’s Governing Council, Aliyu thanked President Tinubu, stating that the renaming of the postgraduate institution reflected the administration’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s energy workforce.

Chairman of the review committee, Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the panel would carry out its assignment diligently and provide recommendations capable of transforming the institution.