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We’re Losing Our Investments, Best Brains To US, UK, Canada – PTDF

Published

8 months ago

April 17, 2025

Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has lamented that a good number of students trained abroad through its scholarship scheme for studies/ researches in oil and gas sector have failed to return to Nigeria upon completion of studies.

The Head, Overseas Scholarship Scheme of PTDF, Mrs Bola Agboola, stated this in her keynote address tagged, “The Role and Impact of PTDF on Nigerian Students/Youths and our Institutions” during a one day PTDF students sensitization/capacity building program held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday.

Agboola noted that due to lack or under employment by oil and gas companies many of the students that the PTDF sponsored chose to remain in Canada, US, Germany, China or any of the foreign countries where they would be readily employed with adequate payment.

She also said the PTDF has put measures in place to ensure that these students or beneficiaries are brought home upon completion of studies to help develop Nigerian economy and solve nagging problems in the society with the result of their researches.

Agboola who regretted that the alumni of the scheme are scattered across the world said PTDF is working to harness them for the benefit of the country, adding that over 8000 students have been sponsored since the inception of the scheme.

Her words, “We also have to harness our alumni, we have a lot of them scattered all over the world. How do we harness them for our own benefit and also improving recruitment and number of scholars of our product in the oil and gas industry, this is the major problem for us.

“We have trained over 8000 students and some of them after the training remain over there, all our investments are retained over there in the US, UK, Canada etc. Also there is a complaint that when they come back to Nigeria they don’t get a job, they are finding it difficult to be absorbed into the oil and gas industry. To that end, we need to create more cooperation and partnership with the oil and gas industry to ensure our people are employed in good positions.”

She pledged the Scheme’s 100 percent commitments to building indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector even as she announced that PTDF is looking for different ways of generating funds as the licensing fees which is their major source of income was no longer sustainable for operations.

In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to president Bola Tinubu on students Engagement, Asefon Dayo commended the PTDF for their continued investment in education, training, and human capital development, particularly in oil and gas sector.

Dayo said the youths are ready to learn, lead and contribute meaningfully to the oil and gas industry and by extension, to the future of Nigeria but all they needed is to have access to opportunities.

According to him, “The oil and gas sector is no longer a space for only technical experts. It now demands a multi-disciplinary approach—involving engineers, policy analysts, digital innovators, environmental scientists, legal minds, and even community mobilizers. Our youth and students must be equipped with the tools not only to participate in this space but to innovate within it.”

Also speaking, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Oladoja Olushola urged the students to take the opportunity presented by PTDF with seriousness, curiosity, and a spirit of innovation. “You are not just beneficiaries-you are torchbearers for the next generation of professionals who will shape the future of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and beyond.” He said.

Oladoja said NANS as a body would continue to advocate for more inclusive, impactful, and sustainable student-centered interventions to ensure that no student is left behind.

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Otuaro Pledges To Expand PAP Scholarship As Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities

Published

5 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has expressed his unwavering commitment to expanding the PAP scholarship scheme.

The PAP boss made the pledge at a graduation reception for nine students who were awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by PAP in universities in the United Kingdom.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, said the successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.

According to the statement, they graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.

Otuaro disclosed in the statement that 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.

According to Otuaro, the expansion of the scholarship scheme is aimed at creating more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.

Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.

He said under his administration, 7700 students have been so far deployed for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.

According to him, aince he took over, he has deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.

According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.

The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.

“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”

Otuaro, who congratulated the master’s graduates on their successful graduation, stressed that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.

He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.

“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.

News

Okpebholo Declares Edo Business-friendly

Published

8 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Friday declared the state as Edo business-friendly environment and ready to welcome any investor to the state.

The governor spoke when he played host to members of the South – South Coalition of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (COSSCIMA).

The governor, who received his guests through the Office of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, said his administration has provided the enabling environment for investors to promote their businesses.

The governor commended the COSSCIMA for deeming it fit to choose the stata as host to the annual general meeting of the body.

“It is not surprising that you pick the state as a choice because we have provided the enabling environment by investing in infrastructure and reducing insecurity to the barest minimum.

“So, we assured potential investors that the state is safe, secured for all to come and invest,” he stated.

Also speaking, Hon. Omoh Anabor, Commissioner for Business, Trade, and Investment, said that the state was ready to partner any firm.

Earlier in his address, President of COSSCIMA, Hon. Indutimi komonibo said, “The Edo State Governor is doing a great job.

He, however, pointed out that nonetheless reiterated, “No government can succeed without partnering with the organized private sector.”

“We seek collaboration wherever we go. We carry the emblem of national development. Investors are looking for where their business will thrive. We understand the language of the business.”

He stated that COSSCIMA membership cut across the six Chambers of Commerce that make up the South-South states of the federation.

News

Oba Of Benin Suspends Priest, Reaffirms Appointment Of Okao

Published

8 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare the second, has suspended the traditional priest of Uniamen Village, Chief Sunday Sidney Enoma as the Ohen-Ovia of Unuamen for violating the custom and traditional of Benin.

The Monarch reaffirmed Chief Kingsley Igbinosa as the Okao (traditional head) of Unuamen Village, in Ovia North East local Government Area of Edo State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Oba described the claim by the suspended Ohen of Unuamen that he is the one who usually installs the Okao of the village as baseless, unfounded and abominable.

The Benin Monarch noted that all Chieftaincy titles in Benin kingdom are conferred by the Oba.