HOW TO BECOME A PTDF SCHOLAR UNDER THE FUNDS OVERSEAS

SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME (OSS)

October is the beginning of the last quarter of the year. For the Petroleum Technology
Development Fund (PTDF), the month of October ushers in the process of selecting Nigerians for the
award of PTDF Overseas Scholarships under its OSS Scheme, the flagship programme of the Fund. The
Scholarship Scheme affords young Nigerians, the opportunity of being trained in highly rated
Universities abroad to specialize in related fields of Engineering, Geological Sciences , Environment
and Energy Studies both at Masters and Doctoral levels. The expectation is that beneficiaries will fit
in directly to the oil and gas industry and ultimately contribute towards PTDFs goal of attaining 70%
Nigerian Content target of government in the oil and gas industry by 2010.Since it took off effectively
in 2002, not less than 867 Nigerians have been trained under the Scheme. This is made up of 746
M.Sc scholars and 121 PhD scholars. For the 2008/2009 academic year, the Fund sponsored a total of
290 students made up 250 M.sc and 40 Ph.D. The PTDF overseas scholarship scheme covers
payments for tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses as well as provision of air tickets to
successful scholars in top ten Universities in Europe and other parts of the world. With an estimated
expense of 24,500 per scholar per academic year, the Fund committed about 13,159,724.38
(nearly 13.2 million pounds) on the training of M.sc and Ph.D scholars between 2002 and 2006.Since
the commencement of the overseas scholarship scheme, various interest groups have been raising
concerns about the transparency, integrity and impartiality of the process. There are also insinuations
that certain parts of the country are favoured in the allocation of the awards. It is not unlikely that
those who raise these concerns do so from lack of understanding of the way the scheme works, and
failure to appreciate the rigorous steps taken by PTDF to ensure equity in the allocation of the
awards, without compromising the high standards and strict adherence to the guidelines for the
award. With the commencement of the process for the 2009/2010 awards this October, it is
necessary to bring to the knowledge of interested candidates and other interest groups some
important facts governing the award of PTDF scholarships to deserving students which hopefully will
lead to a better appreciation of how the scholarship scheme works.
Generally, PTDF is guided by four factors in the award of scholarships to deserving Nigerians.(1)
Federal character: Under which all states/Geopolitical zones are given equal number of
scholarships.(2) Merit: Under which the highest scorers in the aptitude test/interview
from each state and the Federal Capital Territory/Geopolitical zones are selected for the
awards.(3) Oil producing states: In which additional scholarship slots are given to each of
the oil producing states.(4) Gender Sensitivity: In which the best female candidate(s) with
the highest scores in the aptitude test from each of the six geopolitical zones are
awarded scholarships. For the 2007/2008 academic year, five scholarships were awarded to
candidates from each of the 36 States of the Federation purely on merit. Each of the nine oil
producing states were in addition to the five, granted two additional slots bringing to 7 the total
scholarship awards to each of the nine oil producing states. Nigerians aspiring for scholarship awards
under the scheme should therefore look out for the publications in some national Newspapers as
from 22
nd
October, 2008 calling for applications from interested candidates. The next thing would be
to obtain an application form from their state scholarship boards or apply online through the PTDF
website (www.ptdfscholarships.org).To be eligible for the M.sc scholarship award, the candidate
must not be more than 35 years, and should possess a minimum of second class upper Degree in oil
and Gas related fields. The related fields include the physical sciences, Chemistry, Physics,
Mathematics, Computing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Geology, Geophysics, Microbiology
and Biochemistry and could be expanded to include the Management Sciences and Law, depending
on need by the industry. It is also expected that the applicants are computer literate, possess a
certificate of proficiency in English Language, from any of the following Examination bodies GCE,
SSCE, TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, or GMAT and must have served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC) and as such should be able to produce an NYSC discharge certificate or certificate of
exemption. In addition, the Management of the Fund has decided to reintroduce sponsorship of a
limited number of Management courses from 2009/10 academic session. These include Petroleum
law and policy, Energy economics, Energy finance, Petroleum Accounting and Oil and Gas
Management. This is in response to calls from Nigerians on the need to expand the approved
sponsored courses. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship in the PhD category, aspiring
candidates must possess a good first and second University Degrees or HND and PGD/Masters Degree
certificates. They are also expected to submit a research proposal of between four to five pages in the
areas of Environmental Studies and Health Safety and Environment; Marginal fields Development;
flow assurance and pipeline Engineering ; Geology, Civil and Marine Technology; Renewable Energy
Reservoir Engineering and Petroleum Technology; Refining Technology and Applied Geophysics. The
research proposal must indicate the expected results and relevance to the oil and gas industry. Other
requirements for the Ph.D category of the PTDF overseas scholarship scheme include the
presentation of a valid admission letter by the applicant who must not be more than 40 years of age.
However lecturers seeking the award must not be above 45 years of age. All applicants must include
their Masters Degree project. All applicants who completed the application form are to return the
application forms to the state scholarship boards where they purchased them. The completed
application forms are subsequently retrieved from the state scholarship boards by PTDF for collation
at the headquarters using the approved criteria. Applicants for M.sc scholarship who meet the
requirements are invited for an aptitude test conducted simultaneously in six centers in the six geo-
political zones. The aptitude test, is supervised by University professors who set and mark the
questions, while applicants for PhD scholarship who meet the requirements are invited for the
interview usually conducted in Abuja on fixed dates by selected reputable University professors and
industry experts with requisite knowledge and background in the areas of relevance. The best
performing candidates in the aptitude test are shortlisted out of which the top 5 or 6 depending on
the awards for the year are selected from each state for the award of the PTDF Overseas scholarship,
while a given number of the highest scorers are selected on zonal basis in respect of PhD This
rigorous process is deliberately put in place to safeguard the quality and integrity of the scholarship
scheme. This has manifested in the consistent high performance of PTDF scholars in their Universities
of study abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom where PTDF scholars are reputed to be among the
first ten and in some cases among the first five top students, with some of them passing out with
distinction as well as winning various awards. The PTDF is proud of this laudable achievement. The
management of the Fund will not relent in its efforts in this regard. Nigerians are therefore, hereby
assured that every effort will be made by management of the Fund to ensure the maintenance of the
credibility and integrity of the selection process, guided by transparency and due process at all times.
Kalu Otisi Esq.Head (Press and External Relations)

< Prev Next >



2007 Petroleum Technology Development Fund. All rights reserved.
UK UNIVERSITY HONOURS PTDF M.SC SCHOLAR

A beneficiary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund
(PTDF) Overseas Scholarship scheme, Marcus Edino, has received
honors and commendation for exceptional academic scholarship by
the Glasgow Caledonian University in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Marcus Edino, a PTDF 2007/2008 M.SC Scholar in Energy and
Environmental Management came out tops in his class thereby securing an
unconditional admission for a Ph.D Programme under the Scholarship
Scheme of the University.
In a letter of appreciation to the Management of PTDF, an obviously
exhilarated Marcus Edino, thanked the Federal Government for the rare
privilege offered by the Overseas Training Programme and PTDF, which
through its transparent conduct of the scheme made it possible for a Nigerian
like him with no means and no connections, and from an obscure village in
Kogi State, to benefit from the Scholarship Scheme.
Mr. Marcus Edino says he is a living testimony that PTDF Scholarship
Awards are given out on merit. According to him I applied for the PTDF
Overseas Scholarship Funding in October 2006 reluctantly, with the
conviction that since neither my father nor mother had ever visited Abuja
and since no member of my family is privileged to be in power, my
application was going to be pushed aside. Like joke, I was shortlisted for the
aptitude test. Then like a dream, on the 5th of March 2007, my name was
published in This day Newspaper as one of the two beneficiaries from
Kogi State.It was the first time someone was going to participate in that
Scheme from my village. Today it has changed the orientation of my
people. He commended PTDF for upholding merit in the face of wrong
notion by many that nothing good can come from Nigeria.
Mr. Marcus Edino, the child of a poor farmer will begin his Ph.D
Programme this September. He intends to return to Nigeria after the Ph.D
Programme and contribute in finding solutions to the energy and
environmental problems.

<
Prev

Next
>
President orders review of PTDF law

President Umaru YarAdua has ordered a review of the law governing
the Petroleum Technology Development Fund in order to ensure
greater transparency and efficiency in its management.The PTDF Act
was passed into law in 1973.
YarAdua explained that the review would also make the PTDF meet
current circumstances and stand the test of time. He gave the
directive after the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Alhaji Kabir
Mohammed, briefed him at the State House, Abuja.
The planned review was coming against a backdrop of
controversies over the alleged mismanagement of the Fund.
The mismanagement of the PTDF featured prominently in the
protracted crisis that divided the Presidency during former President
Olusegun Obasanjos administration.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and an
administrative panel, headed by the former Attorney-General of the
Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, had indicted the then Vice-President
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over the alleged mismanagement of the
Fund.
Abubakar responded with a series of allegations against Obasanjo.
Noting that right laws would prevent a recurrence of such a
situation, YarAdua told the PTDF chief, You need to have the right
legislation to take care of all situations under which you operate.
The President further explained that if the laws were not reviewed,
the PTDF would most likely abandon its original concept and drift
into so many areas that are not part of its mandate.
A major aspect of the PTDF saga is an argument over the propriety
of some of the approvals made by the Federal Executive Council.
A minority report from the Senate Ad Hoc Review Committee had
questioned the use of the Fund to finance some projects that were
reportedly outside its mandate.
Such projects included the African Institute of Science and
Technology; the Galaxy Blackbone Project; and the Computer for all
Nigerians Initiative.
Mohammed had earlier told YarAdua that the Fund spent N9.39bn
to upgrade the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Delta State, and
N2.8bn on the upgrade of facilities in eight universities.
He added that Information and Communication Technology centres
had also been established in 24 universities, 20 Federal Colleges of
Education and 102 unity schools nationwide.
The executive secretary said the Fund had also initiated the
construction of a National Technical Institute for Gas and Petroleum
Studies in Bonny Island and a Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in
Ekowe, Rivers State. Mohammed also stated that 596 M.Sc. and 86
PhD scholars were trained by the Fund between 2002 and 2006.
Professorial chairs, he added, had been endowed in six universities
in the country.
He also disclosed that the Fund would offer qualified candidates
scholarships for training in local universities from the next academic
session.

Courtesy: Punch, Wednesday, 27 Jun 2007
PTDF GETS A NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The new Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund
(PTDF) Engr.Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has unfolded his plan of action that
will guide his administration of the Fund.
Speaking after the Management of the Fund was formally handed over to
him by the former Executive Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, Engr.
Muttaqha Rabe Darma who described himself as a team leader and not a
boss, identified key areas of the oil and gas industry that the Fund under
his administration will strive to develop. These areas which he formulated
into a 5-point agenda include:
1. Developing expertise in Petroleum Technology.
2. Developing new and improved environmental technology.
3. Develop new and improved technology in oil recovery facilities
especially in deep wells and marginal fields.
4. Ensure more integration and effective co-operation in the petroleum
sector with all stake holders.
5. Development of innovative and cost effective gas technologies.

The Fund he said will develop processes to actualise these stated
intentions by designing achievable targets that are distinct and
measurable. Kalu Otisi Esq.