By Abdulrohim Lawal
The Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PDTF) has begun screening of 436 candidates who applied under its overseas scholarship scheme in the North East region.
The Team Lead, Interview/Screening Panel in charge of the zone, Mr Surajo Abdullahi-Fari, said this on the sidelines of the exercise in Bauchi.
He said the Fund was conducting nationwide screening for prospective candidates leading to the award of scholarship, to enable them to further their education in petroleum engineering related disciplines.
Abdullahi-Fari said the candidates comprised 177 Doctorate Degree (Ph.D) and 266 Masters Degree (MSc) candidates from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
The Fund, he said, was providing scholarships to qualified Nigerians in the field of Petroleum Engineering; Environmental Engineering, Geo Sciences, Computing and Management, among others.
The team lead said the Fund had digitalised the scholarship award and application processes to make it more transparent, credible, open and fair to all candidates.
He said the Fund advertised the scholarships to enable interested Nigerians to apply online without cumbersome processes.
According to him, the Fund is in partnership with United Kingdom, France, Germany, Malaysia and China, adding that some of the countries are offering free tuition fee to Nigerian students.
“Part of our mandate is to bridge the manpower gap in the oil and gas industry through interventions including trading, capacity building and institutional support.
“PTDF is providing in-country and overseas scholarships to Nigerian students, to provide the needed manpower for oil and gas industry.
“The Fund also set up vocational training centres in Kaduna and Port Harcourt to fast track skills training development in the sector,” he said.
Also, Ms Halima Alhaji-Sani, a candidate from Yobe, said that she saw the advert on media and applied for the scholarship online.
“I am impressed with online application and the screening exercise. It is moving smoothly without hitches,” she said.