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The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has screened 424 applicants for foreign scholarships to pursue master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in petroleum-related fields.
The nationwide exercise aims to identify the most qualified candidates who will conduct development-focused research and contribute to Nigeria’s energy sector.
In the North-East, the fund shortlisted 266 candidates for master’s programmes and 158 for PhD studies.
Speaking at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University on Tuesday, Deputy Manager (Services) of the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Sirajo Abdullahi Fari, explained that the selection process involved three stages: system verification, document screening by PTDF personnel, and vetting by a team of consultants.
He said the PTDF mandate is to develop human capital to address manpower shortages in the oil and gas sector, noting that the agency has sponsored students abroad for over 20 years with measurable contributions recorded.
“We have been receiving testimonies that our former cohorts are now part of the people manning the newly built Dangote Refinery, Shell and other organisations. In fact, many others are now professors who are being deployed as panelists,” he said.
Fari added that PTDF insists on merit, ensuring that qualified candidates emerge regardless of status, tribe, or connections.
One of the panelists, Prof. Abubakar Isa Bello of Bayero University, Kano, said the exercise was strictly merit-based and free from interference.
“We have been given the guidelines and follow through. At the end of the day, we make recommendations based on our assessment, while the Fund makes the final decision,” he said.
One of the applicants, Atiku Birama from Gombe State, commended the officials, describing them as friendly and transparent, and expressed optimism about the final selection.
“It is encouraging to see how seriously PTDF takes the selection process. The presence of experts and panelists makes us feel that this scholarship is truly merit-based,” he said.
Another candidate, Fatima Abdullahi from Bauchi State, said the exercise boosted her confidence.
“Even if I don’t get selected, this process has boosted my confidence. It has taught me how to present and defend my research effectively, preparing me for future academic and professional challenges,” she said.
