Full List: PTDF Shortlists 5,746 Nigerians for Overseas Scholarship Interviews
- The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) released the names of Nigerians shortlisted for the 2025 overseas scholarship interviews
- The interviews are being conducted across the six geopolitical zones and form the second stage in the selection process
- The list includes MSc and PhD candidates who will pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in critical energy-related disciplines abroad
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has released a shortlist of 5,746 Nigerian candidates for the 2025 edition of its Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS), signalling another major effort to build high-level manpower for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The interviews, which started on Monday, July 14, 2025, are being conducted across six geopolitical centres and will run throughout the week.
Source: Getty Images
Breakdown of numbers and interview centres
They form the penultimate stage in the selection of candidates pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees in critical energy-related disciplines abroad.
According to PTDF’s Manager of Training, Atahiru Ahmad, a total of 3,875 MSc and 1,871 PhD candidates have been shortlisted.
In the Kaduna centre alone, 560 candidates (350 MSc, 210 PhD) are expected.
“We allow candidates to choose centres close to them. In Kaduna, for instance, we scheduled interviews in morning and afternoon sessions,” Ahmad explained.
MSME Africa reports that the scholarship targets core oil and gas disciplines, in line with PTDF’s mandate to develop a globally competitive energy workforce.
Oversight body ensures transparency, equity
To reinforce the credibility of the process, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) deployed monitors to each centre.
At the Kaduna venue, Dalhatu Ibrahim, FCC Director for Katsina State, confirmed that merit remains the central criterion.
“They’ve done this many times. The shortlisting is guided by clear and fair metrics. We’re only here to ensure transparency,” Ibrahim stated.
Candidates share career goals and passions
Among the hopefuls is Capt. Chukwuebuka Nwali, an officer in the Nigerian Army, is seeking a PhD in Nuclear Physics to help mitigate corrosion in oil infrastructure.
“I want to contribute practical, science-driven solutions to protect our assets,” he said.
Ibrahim Jamilu, a geoscientist, intends to study Environmental Geology, focusing on the impact of oil extraction on ecosystems.
Habiba Ali, an economist, aims to specialise in Computational Finance, linking tech and finance to improve oil sector transparency.
About the fully funded scholarship scheme
The PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme, administered by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, offers full sponsorship for Nigerian graduates pursuing MSc and PhD degrees abroad.
Covered expenses include:
- Tuition and research grants
- Return flight tickets
- Living allowance
- Health insurance
- Fields of study and strategic focus areas
Eligible fields include:
- Petroleum, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering
- Geosciences, Energy Economics, and Oil & Gas Law
- Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Renewable Energy
More information and future opportunities
By nurturing homegrown experts, PTDF hopes to reduce foreign dependence, drive local innovation, and secure Nigeria’s future in a rapidly changing global energy landscape.
Source: Getty Images
For the full shortlist, eligibility criteria, and future application windows, visit the official PTDF website.
Guide to applying for the Presidential Conditional Grant scheme
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian government recently announced the takeoff of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to nano businesses across the country as part of the Presidential Palliative Programme.
According to the Nigerian government, the grant sum is about N50,000 per beneficiary and is designed to reach one million petty businesses nationwide in all 774 local government areas.
The Nigerian government earmarked N150 billion for nano businesses and the manufacturing sector across the country.
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