By SANI IDRIS

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), says it has shortlisted a total of 5,747 candidates for interview in its ongoing oversees scholarship scheme.

The shortlisted candidates for interview were 3, 875 for Masters Degrees (MSc) while 1,871 for Doctorate Degrees (PhDs)

In the North-West Centre, Kaduna, a total of 560 candidates were shortlisted, comprising 350 for MSc and 210 for PhDs.

Speaking to newsmen at the sidelines of interview for the candidates of the PTDF scholarship scheme on Monday in Kaduna,

Atahiru Ahmad, Manager Training, PTDF, said the exercise was part of the selection process.

Ahmed said for the week, they would be interviewing the masters? applicants, which will run from Monday to Friday.

?We are expecting 350 candidates in Kaduna this week for the M.Sc interview. We schedule them for morning and afternoon,? he said.

Ahmed said that PTDF had six centres in the whole federation, one for each geo-political zone, where each candidate can select the centre closer to him or her for the interview.

Ahmed explained that PTDF was saddled with the responsibility of developing capacity for the Oil and gas industry.

He, therefore, said all the disciplines that they were focusing on are meant to develop capacities for the oil and Gas industry.

?So, we are looking at oil and gas related courses,? he said.

Dalhatu Ibrahim, Director, Katsina State Office of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), said the exercise had been transparent.

?This is not the first time the PTDF is conducting this.

?They have their criteria on the basis of which they make their selection and shortlist on the basis of that criteria.

?They shortlist, they invite, and we come to monitor how fair and equitable the process is,? Ibrahim said.

One of the candidates, Capt. Chukwuebuka Nwali of the Nigerian Army Education Corps, said he was vying for the PTDF overseas scholarship scheme to study Nuclear Physics, focusing on solving corrosion problems in Nigeria?s oil and gas industry.

Nwali believed that nuclear science could benefit Nigeria?s health, industry, and research sectors, emphasising the he wants to add value to the country after completing his studies abroad.

The officer expressed confidence that his expertise would help solve problems costing Nigeria billions of Naira annually.

He said he discovered PTDF through friends who were scholars and followed them on social media.

Another candidate, Ibrahim Jamilu, a Geo-scientist, said he applied for the PTDF overseas scholarship to study Environmental Geology.

He said he learnt about the programme through international opportunities organised by his university.

Jamilu said his interest in environmental geology stemmed from the damages caused by oil and gas operations in Nigeria, which had contaminated air, land, and water.

With a background in geoscience, Jamilu believed that his studies would help him understand the interaction between human activities and the geologic environment, enabling him to address environmental issues.

On her part, Habiba Ali, an Economist, said she applied for the PTDF scholarship to study Computational Finance.

Ali believed that advancing technology in Nigeria?s financial sector can help solve economic problems.

She said her interest in computational finance stemmed from her background knowledge of Economics and skills in Data Science.

?I want to leverage this knowledge to address Nigeria?s financial sector issues,? she said.

Ali expressed optimism that her studies would enable her to contribute to Nigeria?s economic growth, particularly in the oil and gas sector when given the scholarship. (NAN)

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