2026 Overseas Scholarship Scheme: PTDF Screens 173 Candidates

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced screening of 173 candidates shortlisted for its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and Ph.D. awards.

The five-day screening exercise being held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) comprises candidates residing across states in the South-East region.

Speaking during the commencement of the screening yesterday, Team Lead for the South-East Centre of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS), Afam Ikwuemesi, said the shortlisted candidates cut across individuals from Geology, Engineering, Management and Environmental Sciences.

“These are the fields that we have discovered lack the necessary manpower in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria,” he said adding that “The candidates are assessed on their suitability and foreseeable impact of their academic research/work on the oil and gas sector.

He explained that over 900 candidates applied for the scholarship across the Southeast region out of which 173 were shortlisted for interviews.

“The PTDF scholarship scheme is designed to train Nigerians to qualify as professionals in the oil and gas industry at the master’s and Ph.D. levels,” he said.

Speaking further, Ikoku said the panelists were professionals drawn from academia and the energy sector, noting that their expertise and recommendations would play a crucial role in identifying deserving candidates.

Also speaking, one of the panelists and Head of Department of Geology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ifeanyi Oha, said the panel scores applicants based on their credentials, research proposals or statements of purpose, and professional memberships among others in accordance with the provided templates.