PTDF Seeks UK Support for Scholarships Amid Challenges

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has sponsored nearly 15,000 Nigerians for studies both at home and abroad, with 1,571 scholars currently studying in 15 countries as of July 2026. During a meeting on Tuesday with British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, at the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Kaduna, PTDF Executive Secretary Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu requested UK assistance to address issues such as visa rejections and high tuition fees, which are straining the scholarship program.

Aliyu noted that the PTDF has collaborated with 24 British universities and has been a key partner in developing skills for Nigeria’s energy sector. He expressed the need for a plan to monitor scholars in the UK, while Vowles acknowledged the challenges and stated that the British High Commission would communicate these concerns to relevant stakeholders.