KADUNA, NIGERIA– The Petroleum Innovation Development Fund (PTDF) has actually reached a historical pivotal moment in Nigeria’s energy education with the induction of 43 PhD scholars into the leader friend of the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK).
The event, held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, officially released academic activities at the specialised postgraduate organization, marking the conclusion of a vision conceived nearly 17 years back.
Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Mr. Ahmed Galadima Aminu, described the launch as a major turning point aimed at domesticating the Fund’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme and bringing world-class energy research study directly to Nigerian soil.
The Split-Site Design: A First for Nigeria
A standout function of the brand-new PhD programme is its “split-site” execution, a pilot model that is the first of its kind in the nation.
This structure permits scholars to combine regional academic mentorship at CPESK with worldwide exposure through partner organizations in the UK.
Partner UK Institutions Include:
To guarantee academic rigour, the PTDF has actually engaged 43 academic consultants, mainly high-achieving PTDF alumni, to supply constant guidance to the scholars throughout their research study journey.
The competition for the pioneer slots was extreme. Mr Aminu revealed that when the program was advertised in Might 2025, it attracted a staggering 3,702 applications.
Following a multi-stage screening process concentrated on merit and research viability, just 43 prospects (approximately 1.1% of candidates) emerged successful.
Institutional Shift and NUC Acknowledgment
In a significant regulative upgrade, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, verified that CPESK has just recently been certified as a private university.
This shift supplies an irreversible, lawfully identified platform for postgraduate training and research within Nigeria, substantially minimizing the country’s reliance on total foreign training.
APPLY: PTDF Opens 2026/27 Abroad Scholarship Plan for Nigerian Postgraduates
Prof. Ribadu commended the PTDF for its sustained financial investment in human capital, noting that the college will assist preserve worldwide standards through its global collaborations while strengthening regional competence.
The PTDF boss urged the conscripts to view themselves not just as students, however as “ambassadors of a vision.”
He emphasised that their research should translate into useful solutions for Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly addressing the progressing requirements of the oil and gas industry in a transitioning global energy landscape.
The successful liftoff of CPESK was credited to the high-level assistance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the management of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, indicating a unified government dedication to constructing a worldwide competitive energy labor force.