The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced screening of 5,885 shortlisted candidates nationwide for its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and PhD programmes.
Dr. Bello Mustapha, Deputy General Manager, Education and Training at PTDF, disclosed this at the commencement of interviews on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mustapha said the Fund received over 38,000 applications, out of which 5,885 candidates were shortlisted through a transparent selection process.
He explained that the screening exercise was being conducted concurrently across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with designated centres in Abuja for North-Central, Bauchi for North-East, Kaduna for North-West, Port Harcourt for South-South, Enugu for South-East, and Ibadan for South-West.
“The shortlisted candidates are drawn from over 38,000 applicants who indicated interest in the scholarship programme. The selection is based on strict criteria, including academic performance, relevant work experience and overall qualifications of applicants,” he said.
Mustapha added that candidates must possess at least a second-class upper degree to qualify for consideration, noting that secondary school results were also assessed as part of the evaluation process.
According to him, candidates were allowed to attend interviews at any of the centres of their choice, irrespective of their state of origin.
He further stated that the final selection would reflect the Federal Character principle to ensure equitable representation across states, adding that the number of successful candidates would depend on available budgetary provisions and management approval.
Mustapha said the scholarship scheme covers petroleum-related courses, alongside supporting programmes such as management and petroleum law.
Some candidates who spoke during the exercise expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity to compete for postgraduate studies abroad.
One of the candidates, Maria Ochanya, a Biochemistry graduate, said the programme would provide the foundation for her to pursue an MSc in Industrial Biotechnology and contribute meaningfully to society.
Another candidate, Alhaji Ikoh, who applied for MSc Environmental Science with a background in Architecture, described the process as professional and expressed optimism about securing the scholarship.
