PTDF Interviews 5,885 Candidates for Overseas Scholarships

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has initiated interviews for 5,885 shortlisted candidates from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for its overseas postgraduate scholarship program. This exercise, part of the 2026-2027 scholarship scheme, began on April 7 and will conclude on April 17, 2026, conducted simultaneously across six centers in Nigeria: Abuja, Bauchi, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, and Oyo.

The selection process is competitive, with a significant increase in applications from 29,000 in 2025 to 38,000 in 2026, although the number of shortlisted candidates rose only by 7% to 5,885. The final selection will adhere to Nigeria's federal character principle, ensuring equitable representation from various states.

Bello Mustapha, Deputy General Manager of Education and Training at PTDF, emphasized that merit will determine the final award of scholarships, which will focus primarily on petroleum-related disciplines.