The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the second phase of interviews for the 2026/2027 PhD awards under its Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS), targeting 2,102 PhD applicants from across Nigeria. The exercise, which began in Abuja, follows the successful completion of Master’s interviews conducted in four centres nationwide.
Dr. Bello Mustapha, PTDF’s Deputy General Manager for Education and Training, stated that Abuja alone accounts for 912 shortlisted candidates scheduled for interviews over a five-day period. The selection process adheres to the Federal Character principle, ensuring that candidates compete within their respective states, with top performers selected based on merit. The number of successful awardees will depend on budgetary allocations, with final decisions to rest with PTDF management after the interview process.
While the UK remains a destination for Master’s scholars, PTDF has domesticated its PhD programme through a split-site arrangement with partner universities, allowing candidates to spend part of their study period abroad. Other participating countries include Malaysia, Germany, and France. The Fund received over 30,000 applications for both Master’s and PhD programmes, with approximately 5,800 candidates shortlisted for interviews.
A delegation from the Federal Character Commission (FCC) monitored the selection process to ensure fairness and compliance with national balance principles. State Coordinator John Uchara, accompanied by Commissioner Prof. Eugene Aleba, commended PTDF for demonstrating transparency and adherence to federal character guidelines. “Our duty is to ensure that the process reflects the federal character principles to avoid complaints from any part of Nigeria,” Uchara said, noting that the final assessment would be based on the overall intake and its reflection of national balance.
Prof. Bashir Aliyu, a panelist from Modibbo Adama University, Yola, described the quality of candidates as highly impressive, noting that the process was progressing smoothly and transparently. The panel focuses on assessing candidates’ academic background, research capacity, and the relevance of their proposed PhD work to national development. PTDF has implemented robust verification mechanisms, including document authentication and checks on publications, to ensure only credible candidates are selected.
Candidates expressed optimism about their research proposals and the scholarship opportunity. Tanko Fwadwabea, a Chemical Engineer, aims to focus on process simulation for blue hydrogen production to add value to Nigeria’s natural gas resources while reducing carbon emissions. Cornelia Collins-Onoha, a returning candidate in geosciences, proposed studying the spread and persistence of antimicrobial-resistant genes in aquatic environments affected by oil pollution. She noted improvements in the process’s structure and timeliness compared to the previous year.
The PTDF scholarship programme continues to attract significant interest, reflecting its importance in developing Nigeria’s human capital in the petroleum and energy sectors.
