NUC Develops Future-ready Skills In Energy, Data Science

The National Universities Commission (NUC) is equipping Nigerian graduates with future-ready skills by expanding academic programmes in emerging fields such as energy science and data science.

Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, NUC Executive Secretary, announced this on Wednesday during the PTDF Split-Site Ph.D. Scholarship induction at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK).

“This initiative prepares graduates for the evolving global energy landscape and digital economy,” Ribadu said, noting that curriculum development is an ongoing process shaped by technological and industry advancements.

He added that NUC has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy for tertiary institutions, currently under stakeholder review, to integrate AI into teaching, research, and institutional operations.

Ribadu commended PTDF for investing in human capital as CPESK inducted 43 candidates as its first Ph.D. cohort. “CPESK will strengthen postgraduate training, build local expertise, and maintain global standards through strategic partnerships,” he said.

Highlighting collaboration with PTDF, Ribadu welcomed CPESK’s recent approval to operate as a private university, describing it as a step toward sustainable capacity-building in line with global best practices.

He urged the new scholars to justify their selection and serve as ambassadors of the programme and the country. “As pioneers, your contributions will shape the institution’s reputation and impact,” he said.

The CPESK Split-Site Ph.D. Scholarship Programme allows students to train both locally and internationally, including at the University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.