The Petroleum Technology Development Fund has shortlisted 746 applicants from the South South for screening under its 2026 2027 Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.
Nationwide, the agency is interviewing between 5885 and 6193 candidates drawn from 38398 applications received for MSc and PhD programmes.
The interview exercise, which runs from April 7 to 17 2026, is holding across the six geo political zones, with Port Harcourt serving as the centre for the South South region.
Team Lead at the PTDF Port Harcourt Centre, Peter Egheneji, said the scheme is part of the Fund’s mandate to develop capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through scholarships and bursaries. He explained that the programme supports qualified Nigerians to undertake specialised training relevant to the sector.
According to him, 503 candidates from the zone are being interviewed this week for MSc programmes, while 243 PhD applicants are scheduled for next week.
Egheneji noted that the scholarship is fully funded, so beneficiaries do not need to work while studying. Successful candidates will sign a bond committing to return to Nigeria after their studies to contribute to national development.
Professor Godwin Chukwu, who leads the panel of interviewers alongside Garba Malumfashi of NIPSS Kuru and Professor Tebekeme Okoko of Niger Delta University, said he was impressed with the quality of applicants.
He explained that the panel assesses each candidate’s undergraduate performance and how their background can be applied to a postgraduate programme that benefits Nigeria’s oil and gas operations.
Chukwu noted that some strong candidates come from non traditional disciplines such as political science and law. He said their ideas show that the scholarship is adding value beyond core engineering fields, citing PTDF scholars who now hold key positions, including a deputy manager at the University of Kaduna.
One applicant, Ifeoluwa Ajetunmobi, who applied for a Master’s in Engineering Management for Process Excellence at a UK university, described the application process as seamless, praising the user friendly portal and prompt email confirmation.
She said that if selected, she plans to use the knowledge gained to address gaps she has observed first hand in the oil and gas industry, including poor communication and weak management practices that cause problems even when equipment and technical capacity are adequate.
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