PTDF Screens 243 PhD Applicants in Port Harcourt

PTDF Screens 243 PhD Applicants in Port Harcourt

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the screening of 243 PhD applicants from Nigeria’s South-South region in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, under its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme, as part of efforts to boost local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and reduce capital flight.

The screening exercise, held at the PTDF Centre for Skills Development and Training, is part of a nationwide selection process designed to identify qualified candidates for advanced studies in critical areas of the petroleum industry.

Speaking during the exercise, PTDF’s Deputy Manager, Internal Audit, Mr. Daddy Ogiri Obonin, said the initiative reflects the Fund’s renewed commitment to developing indigenous technical manpower required to drive growth and innovation in the oil and gas sector.

He revealed that the scholarship scheme has been restructured with the introduction of a split-site model, which allows beneficiaries to undertake a significant portion of their studies within Nigeria, while maintaining academic collaboration with international institutions.

According to him, the new approach is aimed at reducing the high cost of overseas education, limiting capital flight, and addressing the long-standing issue of beneficiaries remaining abroad after completing their studies.

Obonin noted that PTDF has invested in upgrading its training facilities, including its centres in Kaduna and Port Harcourt, to meet global standards and support high-level research and innovation.

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He explained that the reform has already begun to influence application patterns, with fewer candidates opting for fully funded overseas programmes as the Fund prioritises knowledge retention and local industry impact.

The screening process covers a wide range of disciplines including engineering, geosciences, environmental studies, energy economics, and management, reflecting the evolving needs of Nigeria’s energy sector, especially in areas such as sustainability, energy transition, and resource optimisation.

PTDF also reaffirmed that its selection process remains transparent, merit-based, and guided by the Federal Character principle, ensuring equitable representation of candidates across the country.

In recent years, the Fund has increasingly aligned its scholarship priorities with national energy goals, focusing on areas such as gas development, renewable energy, and digital innovation to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the petroleum industry.

Also speaking, one of the panelists, Dr. Hafisat Lawal, commended the quality of research proposals presented by applicants, noting that many candidates demonstrated strong, interdisciplinary approaches to addressing real-world challenges in the oil and gas sector.

She highlighted that even candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, including law, health, and education, showed clear relevance to industry needs through innovative research topics.

One of the applicants, Alete Godwin, a chemical engineer researching the extraction of bioethanol from solid waste, described the screening process as thorough and professional, expressing confidence in the fairness of the exercise.

The PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme remains one of Nigeria’s flagship human capital development programmes, having sponsored thousands of Nigerians for postgraduate studies in leading institutions worldwide.

However, concerns over brain drain and capital flight have prompted reforms such as the split-site model, which aims to ensure that investments in education translate into local economic growth and industry development.

Experts believe the restructured programme could play a critical role in bridging skill gaps, strengthening research capacity, and boosting indigenous participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

PTDF Screens 243 PhD Applicants in Port Harcourt