PTDF‑UDUS Collaboration Equips 30 Scholars with Next‑Gen Oil‑and‑Gas Tools
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has launched a three‑day capacity‑building workshop at Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS), aimed at equipping Nigerian scholars with cutting‑edge tools for sustainable oil and gas operations.
The event, held at the university’s Center for Advancement of Science Research and Analytical Services (CASRAS), is a joint effort between PTDF, the PTDF Professorial Chair in Petroleum Chemistry, and UDUS. PTDF’s General Manager for Research and Innovation, Mr. Olayinka Agboola, represented by Dr. Neeka Jacob, said the programme underscores the Fund’s two‑decade commitment to endowment, grant and scholarly research across Nigerian institutions.
“Over the years we have supported research that has led to patents and inventions ready for commercial deployment,” Agboola said. “These innovations are expected to be scaled up to solve real‑world problems, create jobs and lift living standards.”
He added the workshop is part of a broader strategy to foster joint research and commercialisation in sustainable oil and gas, renewable energy, energy efficiency and security.
“Equipping scholars with the right knowledge, tools and discipline is essential if we are to responsibly harness our oil and gas potential,” he stressed.
PTDF Head of Legal and Secretariat Services, Mr. Nuruhuda Darma, highlighted the partnership’s role in linking academia, industry and government.
“We are creating an ecosystem where research translates into practical solutions,” Darma said, noting the global petroleum laboratory market relies heavily on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‑MS) for quality control and environmental assessment.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s oil‑and‑gas analytical services market is growing at 6‑8 % annually, driven by environmental monitoring and downstream optimisation.
The workshop’s focus is “Mastering GC‑MS for the Oil Industry: From Theory to Practical Applications.”
Prof Aminu Bayawa, PTDF Professorial Chair in Petroleum Chemistry at UDUS, explained that GC‑MS combines high‑resolution separation with molecular identification, making it a core analytical tool for separating, identifying and quantifying hydrocarbons and chemical additives in complex petroleum matrices.
“Beyond the technical skills, this initiative is about empowering scholars to improve productivity while reducing health and environmental risks,” Bayawa said.
He appealed to the government to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and support scientists in turning research into tangible outcomes.
Out of 260 applications, 30 scholars from 22 institutions were selected for the intensive training, which also serves as a platform for dialogue between scientists and development partners.
Vice‑Chancellor Prof Bashir Garba, represented by Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Environmental Sciences Prof. Abdullahi Tsafe, praised PTDF for its sustained investment in capacity building.
“The partnership is reshaping the research landscape of our university and beyond,” Garba said, urging the PTDF Chair to ensure legacy projects that sustain high‑impact research and meet global standards.
The workshop runs until Thursday, with participants from across Nigeria expected to leave with hands‑on experience in GC‑MS technology, ready to apply the tools in both academic and industrial settings.
