News InvestigatorsThe Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has begun screening of 151 shortlisted candidates residing in South-East for its 2025/2026 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and Ph.D award.
Uche Ikoku, Manager, PTDF Centre for Skills and Development, Port Harcourt, disclosed this on Wednesday in the ongoing OSS screening holding at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Mr Ikoku explained that the shortlisted candidates residing in the five states in the South-East, whose screening would last for three days, were Nigerians who indicated the zone as their place of residence.
He said that the ongoing screening process had been seamless and done according to PTDF mandate, adding that the candidates were being assessed on their suitability and foreseeable impact of their academic research/work on the oil and gas sector.
Mr Ikoku, who is also the Team Lead, OSS Screening, South-East Centre, said that the panelists were professionals drawn from academia and energy sector, while their expertise and recommendations would play a crucial role in identifying deserving candidates.
He added that those being screened were from geology, engineering, management and environment sciences, fields the PTDF discovered manpower gaps in the oil and gas sector or industry.
“The PTDF OSS scheme has been on for about 25 years. Over the years the PDF scholarships has been known for its integrity, rigorous transparency and fairness in the award of scholarship across the country,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lead Panelist of OSS in South-East, Prof. Okwudiri Anyiam, said the panel was scoring applicants’ credential, research proposals or statements of purpose, and professional memberships among others in accordance with the provided templates.
“The screening is going on seamlessly. The panel members have met with bright and intelligent Nigerians, and we will ensure we pick some of the best among them and make our recommendations,” Anyiam said.
Meanwhile, one of the screened candidates, Henry Udeh, a Ph.D candidate, said that the screening was hitch free and the questions asked where direct and relevant to one’s academic pursuit.
Mr Udeh, whose Ph.D research proposal is “Explaining Impact of Environmental Changes on Ground Water Quality and Aquifer Vulnerability”, said that he applied after seeing the online advert for the scholarship.
Another candidate, Miss Kenechukwu Ifediora, whose Ph.D research proposal is “Machine Learning Application for Sustainable Economic Principles and Bio-engineering Remediation in Waste Management within the Oil and Gas Sector, said that her work would make impact in Nigeria.
NAN
