The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has raised concern over the growing number of its foreign-trained scholars who remain in countries like the United States and United Kingdom due to limited job opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
This concern was brought to the fore during a one-day sensitisation and capacity-building programme for PTDF students held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, the Head of the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme, Mrs Bolanle Agboola, noted that many beneficiaries of the Fund’s scholarship scheme have opted to remain abroad, where they are offered better job prospects and competitive remuneration, instead of returning home to contribute to national development.
“We have trained over 8,000 students, but many of them end up staying overseas. Our investments are retained in countries like the US, UK, and Canada,” Agboola said.
She added that despite being well-trained, some returnees face difficulties securing suitable placements in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and in many cases are offered roles far below their qualifications.
Agboola stressed that the PTDF is now working closely with local industry players to ensure that scholars, especially those trained abroad, are absorbed into strategic roles upon their return.
“We must harness our alumni scattered around the world and integrate them into our local industry to benefit from their knowledge and exposure,” she said, assuring that measures are being put in place to reverse the trend.
Agboola also hinted at efforts to diversify the Fund’s revenue sources, as reliance on licensing fees has become unsustainable. She reaffirmed the PTDF’s full commitment to building indigenous capacity in the petroleum sector.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Mr Dayo Asefon, applauded the PTDF for its continued investment in human capital development. He highlighted the changing dynamics of the oil and gas sector, which now requires a multidisciplinary workforce beyond just technical experts.
“The sector now needs engineers, digital innovators, legal minds, policy analysts, environmental scientists, and even community mobilizers. Our youths must be prepared to lead in these evolving areas,” Asefon noted.
Also speaking, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja, urged students to maximise the opportunity provided by the PTDF.
“You are not just scholarship recipients; you are the next generation of professionals who will shape the future of Nigeria’s petroleum industry,” he said.
