PTDF Screens 931 Candidates for 2025/26 Overseas Scholarship Scheme

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has announced that 931 candidates have been screened for its 2025/26 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for PhD and Master’s degree programs. This was revealed by Mr. Masud Mohammed, PTDF staff and Team Lead for the OSS South-West screening, held at the University of Ibadan. He explained that 749 candidates were screened for the Master’s program, while 182 applied for the PhD program. Mohammed praised the high quality of the shortlisted candidates, describing them as “the best of the best,” and noted that the scholarship award remains a core mandate of the PTDF in developing human capital for the oil and gas industry.

Addressing the integrity of the selection process, Mohammed emphasized that mechanisms have been put in place to ensure transparency and fairness. He revealed that the Federal Character Commission was invited to oversee the interviews and that the process has been automated to allow real-time result tracking. While acknowledging minor challenges, such as some candidates arriving late for their interviews, he stressed that all shortlisted candidates would be attended to.

Mohammed further stated that this year’s scholarship includes a “split-site program” for PhD candidates, allowing them to complete part of their studies in Nigeria and the remainder in the United Kingdom. He highlighted that the exercise is being conducted across all six geopolitical zones and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which prioritizes human capacity development in critical sectors like oil and gas.

One of the candidates, Uchechukwu Ginika, a University of Lagos graduate, commended the fairness of the screening exercise. He noted that, contrary to the common belief that such opportunities are reserved for the well-connected, the PTDF process was open and merit-based. “Despite not knowing anyone, I applied and was shortlisted. This screening is one of the fairest I have ever witnessed,” he said.