ABUJA, FCT– The Petroleum Innovation Development Fund (PTDF) has actually officially commenced the interview and screening procedure for 5,885 shortlisted prospects contending for the 2026/2027 Abroad Scholarship Scheme (OSS).
The workout, which began on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, aims to choose the next associate of scholars for Master’s (MSc) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) studies in specialised petroleum and energy-related fields.
Speaking at the Abuja centre, the Deputy General Supervisor of Education and Training, Dr Bello Mustapha, revealed that the shortlist was chosen from a huge pool of over 38,000 applicants through an extensive and transparent selection process.
Strict Merit-Based Requirements
Dr Mustapha stressed that the scholarship stays one of Nigeria’s most competitive scholastic awards. To guarantee that only the most capable hands are sent to top-tier international universities, the Fund used a multi-layered evaluation system.
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Selection Requirements Include:
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Academic Excellence: Candidates should have a minimum of a Second Class Upper (2:1) degree.
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Foundational Strength: Assessment of secondary school results (O’Level) to ensure long-term academic consistency.
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Professional Significance: Assessment of work experience and the positioning of the proposed core curriculum with Nigeria’s oil and gas needs.
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Course Scope: Focus on core petroleum engineering, geosciences, ecological sciences, and supporting fields like petroleum law and management.
Decentralised Screening Throughout 6 Zones
In a quote to ensure accessibility and ease of logistics for applicants, the PTDF is conducting the interviews all at once across the 6 geopolitical zones.
Significantly, the Fund has actually enabled a versatile choice of centre policy, allowing prospects to participate in the interview at the location most hassle-free for them, no matter their state of origin.
Interview Centres by Zone:
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North-Central: Abuja (FCT)
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North-East: Bauchi (Bauchi State)
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North-West: Kaduna (Kaduna State)
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South-South: Port Harcourt (Rivers State)
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South-East: Enugu (Enugu State)
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South-West: Ibadan (Oyo State)
Balancing Merit with Federal Character
While the initial shortlisting is strictly merit-driven, Dr Mustapha kept in mind that the final choice will adhere to the Federal Character Concept. This guarantees equitable representation across all 36 states and the FCT, fostering national unity in human capital development.
The overall number of last recipients will be figured out by the PTDF’s budgetary arrangements for the 2026/2027 fiscal year and subsequent management approval.
Prospects at the different centres expressed optimism about the professionalism of the procedure. Maria Ochanya, a Biochemistry graduate considering an MSc in Industrial Biotechnology, kept in mind that the plan provides an unique structure for scholars to obtain global know-how and go back to give back to society.
Similarly, Alhaji Ikoh, an Architecture graduate transitioning into Environmental Science, applauded the transparency of the screening.
As the interviews continue through the week, the PTDF repeats its dedication to bridging the technical skills gap in the Nigerian oil and gas industry by exposing indigenous scholars to international finest practices in energy transition and petroleum innovation.