The College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, is set to commence postgraduate programs, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history. According to Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, over 2,000 applicants have been screened to pursue PhD programs, with admissions scheduled to begin next month.
Established by the PTDF, the college aims to enhance indigenous human capacity for the oil and gas industry. The institution has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and has secured a license from the National Universities Commission to operate as a postgraduate degree-awarding institution. This development is a response to the significant costs associated with sponsoring oil workers for training abroad, with over 15,000 Nigerians having been sponsored by the PTDF to date.
The college boasts an impressive array of academic programs, with 19 courses across six departments and three faculties. Notably, the institution has forged strategic partnerships with three UK universities: the University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Portsmouth. These partnerships will facilitate a split-site postgraduate model, enabling students to study primarily at the college in Kaduna, with short academic stays at the partner universities in the UK.
The college’s faculties, including computing and telecommunication technology, earth and applied sciences, and energy law and management sciences, will offer students a comprehensive education in their chosen fields. With its state-of-the-art facilities and international partnerships, the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, is poised to become a hub for postgraduate education in the oil and gas sector.
The commencement of postgraduate programs at the college is a significant development for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as it will help to address the need for skilled professionals in the sector. As the college prepares to admit its first cohort of PhD students in September 2025, it is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the country’s human capacity and reducing its reliance on foreign training programs. With its strong foundation and international partnerships, the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, is well-positioned to make a meaningful contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
