Scholarships: PTDF Strengthens Oil & Gas Sector With Strategic Partnerships, Screens 5,723 Applicants

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is reinforcing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry by investing in human capital through its 2025/2026 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS), as it begins screening of 5,723 shortlisted candidates from a pool of nearly 30,000 applicants nationwide.

This initiative aims to develop highly skilled professionals equipped to meet the evolving demands of the industry.

Executive secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Aminu, who made this known during the selection interview for the shortlisted candidates on Monday in Abuja, emphasised the fund’s strategic role in building local expertise.
Aminu, represented by deputy general manager, Education and Training, PTDF, Bello Mustapha,said it was charged with skills, competency and capacity building for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

According to him, 29,633 applications were received while 5,723 were shortlisted under a transparent process.

“Since 2000, PTDF has been committed to developing skills, competencies, and capacities essential for the growth of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” Aminu said during the opening of the nationwide interviews in Abuja. “Our partnerships with leading institutions in the UK, France, Germany, and Malaysia ensure that our scholars receive world-class education tailored to the industry’s evolving needs.”

Highlighting the rigorous and transparent selection process, he explained, “We have designed this exercise to efficiently manage a high volume of applicants while strictly adhering to the Federal Character principle, ensuring fairness and inclusivity across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.”

The scholarship scheme offers candidates the opportunity to pursue MSc and PhD programmes, including exclusive split-site PhD options in the UK, in collaboration with the PTDF-owned College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna. “This model not only exposes scholars to international research environments but also strengthens their connection to Nigeria’s energy sector,” Aminu added.

On her part, head of the Overseas Scholarship Scheme, Bolanle Kehinde-Agboola, stressed the integrity of the process: “Our system combines electronic scoring with thorough cross-checking and oral interviews to maintain transparency and fairness. Over 25 years, PTDF has earned a reputation for rigorous and equitable scholarship awards.”

Candidates expressed optimism about the opportunity. Usman Awolerimi, applying for an MSc in International Commercial Law at the University of Nottingham, described the process as “professional and transparent,” while Electrical Electronics Engineer Oluwatobi Emmanuel, hopeful to study Energy and Sustainable Engineering in Germany, called the application experience “seamless and encouraging.”

As Nigeria positions itself to meet ambitious energy goals and expand its gas infrastructure, PTDF’s scholarship programme plays a crucial role in equipping the next generation of professionals to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.