Monday, July 14, 2025 – The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has shortlisted 5,746 candidates across Nigeria for its 2025 Overseas Scholarship Scheme interviews.
The process officially began on Monday at the Kaduna interview centre, one of six locations designated for the selection exercise nationwide.
According to PTDF, 3,875 candidates were shortlisted for Master’s (MSc) programs while 1,871 were chosen for Doctorate (PhD) studies. In Kaduna centre alone, 560 candidates are participating, with 350 scheduled for MSc interviews and 210 for PhD.
Atahiru Ahmad, the Manager of Training at PTDF, addressed the media during the exercise. He explained, “We are expecting 350 candidates in Kaduna this week for the MSc interview. We schedule them for morning and afternoon.”
Ahmad said that six interview centres were created to ensure accessibility and convenience for candidates, allowing them to pick locations closest to them. “PTDF was saddled with the responsibility of developing capacity for the oil and gas industry. So, we are looking at oil and gas-related courses,” he added.
The scholarship interviews focus on high-demand fields like energy, petroleum engineering, environmental management, and financial technology, aligning with the fund’s mandate to boost expertise in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Also speaking at the venue, Dalhatu Ibrahim, Director of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in Katsina State, emphasized that fairness and transparency were being observed.
“This is not the first time the PTDF is conducting this. They have their criteria on the basis of which they make their selection and shortlist on the basis of those criteria. They shortlist, they invite, and we come to monitor how fair and equitable the process is,” Ibrahim said.
Applicants shared their motivations for applying. Capt. Chukwuebuka Nwali from the Nigerian Army Education Corps applied to study Nuclear Physics. He aims to help solve corrosion problems in the oil and gas industry. “I want to add value to the country after completing my studies abroad,” Nwali said. He mentioned learning about PTDF opportunities through friends and social media.
Another candidate, Ibrahim Jamilu, a trained geoscientist, applied to study Environmental Geology. He said, “My studies would help me understand the interaction between human activities and the geologic environment, enabling me to address environmental issues.”
Habiba Ali, an economist, is applying for a scholarship in Computational Finance. She said, “I want to leverage this knowledge to address Nigeria’s financial sector issues.” She hopes to use technology to improve financial management and economic development, especially in the oil and gas space.
In other news, PTDF has rescheduled interviews slated for July 15 due to Public Holiday — see details here.