The Petroleum Technology Development Fund has begun a physical oral interview selection exercise for 2,288 applicants of PTDF overseas postgraduate scholarship in the South-South geopolitical zone.

The PTDF has also assured of transparency in the interview selection exercise, saying that previous scholars could attest to the Fund’s transparency in the selection process.

The selection interview, according to PTDF, is in continuation of the application process which commenced in February 2023, through publications in some national newspapers nationwide inviting qualified Nigerians to apply.

Speaking, the PTDF Team Lead, Overseas Scholarship Scheme in Port Harcourt, Mr Sobomabo West, said the exercise for shortlisted candidates in the two categories (MSc/PhD) began on Monday, June 19th to June 23rd, 2023 across the six designated centres in the six geo-political zones.

West said the University of Port Harcourt’s Institue of Petroleum Studies was chosen as the centre for the exercise in the South-South, saying that while 647 applicants would be interviewed for PhD category, 1,642 will be interviewed for the MSC category in the South-South geopolitical zone.

“The PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme has over the years succeeded in producing well-trained, competent and skilled professional manpower for the various segments of the oil and gas industry.

” The areas of training include Engineering, Geology, Environmental Studies, Sciences, Management, Law, Accounting, Renewable Energy, Information Technology and offshore-related courses.

“Yesterday we had officials from the Federal Character Commission and I can assure you that we are transparent in the selection process. We have qualified panellists to look at every applicant’s case and all these we do through newspaper publication.

We have scholars who can attest to our transparency and the process. The shortlisted candidates will be published and anyone can go through that list to verify if they are not the same people who went through all these processes,” he said.

Also speaking, one of the panellists and Postgraduate Coordinator, IPS, Dr Joseph Amieibibiama, said PTDF is the best scholarship in the world, incomparable with other scholarships even commonwealth scholarships.

Amieibibiama who himself is a beneficiary of the PTDF overseas scholarship also urged the prospective candidates to work hard since the process was highly competitive and advised potential beneficiaries to ensure to return to develop Nigeria after their studies

“They should work hard, it’s actually a rigorous process and highly competitive. As of when I got mine, we are only two who were selected from Rivers State. The process is not biased, you don’t do to know somebody to get the scholarship.

“For anyone who is selected for this scholarship, they should go abroad to study and come back to Nigeria to develop the country,” he added. (The Guardian)

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