The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) on Tuesday commenced the screening of 173 Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates from the South-East for its overseas scholarship scheme.

The exercise, held at the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), attracted applicants from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

The PTDF overseas scholarship scheme is one of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives aimed at building indigenous capacity and reducing dependence on foreign expertise in Nigeria’s energy sector.

Speaking during the exercise, the South-East team lead for the 2026 interview, Mr Afam Ikwuemesi, said the programme was designed to develop Nigerian professionals in the oil and gas industry.

He explained that the scheme focuses on training candidates at the master’s and PhD levels in partnership with institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany and Malaysia.

According to him, the screening is part of a nationwide exercise, adding that candidates must possess at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) degree and apply for oil and gas-related courses in PTDF partner institutions.

Ikwuemesi, who is also the Deputy Manager, Content and Industry Collaboration Department of PTDF, disclosed that over 900 candidates from the South-East applied for the 2026 scholarship scheme, with 173 shortlisted for the ongoing screening scheduled to last throughout the week.

He noted that not all shortlisted applicants would eventually receive the scholarship, stressing that final selection would be based on merit and available quota.

He added that the process is transparent and merit-driven, with digital systems deployed to ensure accountability, while panelists independently assess candidates’ credentials, research proposals and communication skills.

On programme duration, he said master’s studies under the scheme would last for one year, while PhD programmes would run for three years.

Also speaking, the Head of the Geology Department at UNN, Prof. Ifeanyi Oha, described the exercise as smooth and well-coordinated, noting that candidates assessed so far were above average due to the rigorous pre-selection process.

“The exercise is highly competitive. Anyone selected must have demonstrated strong academic and research capabilities,” he said.

Oha commended PTDF for sustaining the initiative over the years, describing it as a consistent and impactful capacity-building programme in the oil and gas sector.

Another panellist, Dr Stella Arinze of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise but called for increased awareness, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

She said greater awareness would promote inclusiveness and enable more qualified candidates from less-represented communities to benefit from the programme.

One of the candidates, Mr Solomon Eke from Imo State, who applied for a PhD in Petroleum Engineering, expressed optimism about his chances after multiple attempts.

Eke said his research focuses on developing locally sourced materials to improve drilling fluids and reduce health hazards in the oil and gas industry.

“This research will promote local content and contribute to safer and more sustainable practices in the sector,” he said.