By Oluseye Ojo
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has placed energy transition, renewable energy, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS).
The PTDF’s Head of Human Resources, Mrs. Bolanle Agboola, made the disclosure during the screening of shortlisted candidates from the South-west, held at the University of Ibadan, on Thursday and Friday, this week for partner universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
She stated that the move represents a strategic shift to align Nigeria’s human capital with the rapidly evolving global energy landscape.
Agboola, who is the Team Lead for the selection exercise in the South-west said the agency was repositioning its scholarship priorities to reflect emerging realities in the energy sector while maintaining its traditional focus on petroleum-related disciplines.
According to her, the fund was deliberately investing in future-facing fields critical to the transformation of the oil and gas industry.
“The current or emerging issues in the energy world now are energy transition, renewables and climate change. AI is also on the table. These are the areas PTDF will be focusing on mostly this year,” she said
Agboola, who added that petroleum disciplines would not be neglected, explained that the scheme would continue to support a wide range of fields, including engineering, geological sciences, environmental studies, energy studies, management, law, computing and other IT-related areas, all tied to strengthening Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The OSS, she noted, remains one of PTDF’s flagship interventions designed to build indigenous capacity by sponsoring outstanding Nigerians to top universities abroad, with the expectation that beneficiaries would return to contribute to national development.
According to her, the fund received a staggering 38,399 applications for the 2026 edition, which opened in February, with over 500 candidates shortlisted for screening in the South-West centre alone.
Nationwide, 6,211 candidates were shortlisted, including 921 for master’s and 298 for PhD programmes, with screenings ongoing simultaneously across six geopolitical zones.
Agboola stressed that beneficiaries must return home after their studies to justify government investment.
“The Federal Government is spending so much to send them abroad. We expect them to come back and deploy their knowledge, expertise and experience in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” she said.
She also issued a stern warning against malpractice, revealing that about 10 candidates were caught last year for offences including certificate forgery and impersonation.
“We have equipment to verify credentials. Anyone caught will face the full weight of the law because forgery is a criminal offence,” she warned.
Corroborating the integrity of the process, Prof. Wasiu Raji of the University of Ilorin, a member of the interview panel and a former PTDF PhD scholar, described the quality of candidates as exceptional.
“The credentials show that only some of the best applicants made the shortlist. The scheme remains a major opportunity for brilliant but indigent students to access quality international education,” he said
He urged prospective applicants to monitor PTDF channels for updates.
Also, lending credibility to the process, the Federal Character Commission, represented by Mrs Oluwakemi Opakunle on behalf of Lagos State Federal Commissioner, Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, affirmed that the exercise adhered strictly to principles of equity, transparency and fairness.
Some candidates also commended the process, including Miss Temitope Ashade, a first-class graduate of Afe Babalola University, and Mr. Malik Muhammed of the University of Ilorin. They described the screening as well organised, expressing optimism about contributing to Nigeria’s energy sector if selected.
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