Education
PTDF screens candidates for 2024/2025 overseas scholarship
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the final stage of the selection process for the award of the 2024 overseas scholarship to qualified Nigerians.
The Head of Overseas Scholarship Scheme, Mrs Bolanle Agboola, told newsmen on Monday in Abuja that only qualified candidates would be awarded.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PTDF on February 5 put out an advert inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for the 2024/2025 Postgraduate Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS).
The physical Interview exercise for shortlisted candidates in the two categories (MSc/PhD) is scheduled to be held between May 20 and 24 in six designated centres across the country’s six geo-political zones.
According to Agboola, the exercise is not just held in Abuja. We have a centre for the South-South at the University of Port Harcourt; and for South-West, the University of Ibadan.
Agboola said, ”For the South-East, we have University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; for North-West we have College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna; and for the North-East we have ATBU, Bauchi.
”The exercise is running concurrently in all the six geo-political zones of the county and our target is to select the best candidates for the scholarship.”
She disclosed that more than 20,000 applications were received, out of which over 5,000 were shortlisted across the zones.
Agboola explained that PTDF was an agency of the Federal Government charged with the responsibility of building capacity and capability for the oil and gas industry.
”The purpose of this is for the indigenisation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
”Our target is to give the necessary skills and provide the opportunity for Nigerians to acquire the knowledge, skills and competence required for the oil and gas industry.
”Note that every state of the nation will get an equal number of candidates based on our budget for the year,” she said.
On the reason for the overseas training, Agboola explained that it was due to the non-availability of most of the high level equipment needed for the training in the country.
”So, we train people abroad, so they can have hands-on experience of all the equipment and technology needed for the industry which is not readily available in the country.
”Aside from the overseas scholarship we also have the in-country scholarship where Nigerians are trained within Nigeria.
”We have upgraded the facilities of some universities in the country to some level and we partner with these universities to run the scholarship,’’ she added.
Speaking on the ”Japa syndrome”,Agboola said that the PTDF had some measures in place to ensure that the candidates returned back to the country upon completion of their training.
She added,”What we do is that the applicants sign bonds with us before going abroad. Also some of these countries we send them to do not allow them to stay back.
”Once you have sponsorship from a government agency, if you want to get a stay visa, they will ask you to go back to your sponsor for a letter of no objection.
”So these are some of the measures that are in place and I can tell you that lots of them come back.’’
Agboola said the PTDF was partnering with four countries which the candidates would be sent to for training, adding that they included the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, one of the shortlisted candidates, Amira Bello from Niger, expressed delight at the seamless nature and smoothness of the exercise.
Bello, who expressed optimism that she would be awarded to further her studies in Project Management, urged other Nigerians to key into the process to benefit from the scheme.
”I have been hearing about the PTDF scholarship and did not know that it was possible until now. The whole process has been fair and smooth.
”I encourage Nigerians out there to apply for this scholarship, as they stand the chance to qualify as the process is based on merit,’ she said.(NAN)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded justice for the five students of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) who lost their lives in an auto crash near Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
NANS South West General Secretary, Oluwole Olutunde Aboke in conjunction with NAUS CMC Osun (JCC Osun), and NANS South West (Zone D), in a petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu dated March 24, 2025, accused the Silver Transport Company of negligence, indifference and failure to take responsibility for the accident involving the students.
The students’ body accused the transport company of gross negligence, recklessness and utter lack of accountability in connection with the tragic accident.
NANS said it was disturbing that despite the gravity of the incident, the transport company had failed to release any official statement, send condolences to the victims’ families, or accept responsibility for their role in this unfortunate disaster.
According to them, the silence is not only an insult to the bereaved families, but also a blatant disregard for human lives and public safety.
“Your Excellency, this recklessness cannot go unpunished. Companies operating in Nigeria must be held accountable for their actions, especially when their negligence leads to the loss of innocent lives,” the students said.
The students urged the office of the President to institute independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding tragedy, ensuring that the transport company was held responsible for any violations of safety regulations that contributed to the accident.
If found guilty of negligence, NANS demands indefinitely closure of the company to prevent further loss of lives.
It added that the Ministry of Transportation should review its operational license and assess whether transport companies meet necessary safety standards required to continue operations in Nigeria.
The students stated that the affected students and their families deserve justice, urging the government to compel the Company to take full responsibility and compensate the families of the victims for their loss.
While calling on the Nigeria Police not to bury the case, NANS said it observed a pattern where cases of corporate negligence were swept under the carpet.
They urged the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner, Osun State Police Command to ensure that the case was not abandoned or manipulated in favour of the transport company.
It warned that Nigerian students would not remain silent while innocent lives continue to be endangered by the irresponsibility of corporate entities.
“If swift action is not taken, NANS JCC Osun will mobilise students across the state and beyond for a mass action to demand justice.
“We trust in Your Excellency’s commitment to justice and public safety, and we look forward to your immediate intervention in this pressing matter”, they added.
calls for immediate release of revitalization fund, AEA, others
wants Tinubu to order AG to release approved funds
Due to the Federal government’s persistent failure to honor agreements over the release of the University revitalization fund, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) might have set a dateline of March ending within which it will call for a full-scale industrial action if the funds for the Universities revitalization project are not released.
The ultimatum may have become necessary following the discovery by the top echelon of the union that the government was playing politics with them over the release of over 200 Billion already approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the university revitalization scheme and Academic Earned Allowance, as well as other entitlements owed the body by the government.
A highly dependable source within ASUU, who spoke to our Correspondent under anonymity condition because he is not permitted to speak on behalf of the body, disclosed that the leadership of the union is deeply worried that despite its huge sacrifices and cooperation shown to the present Administration, the federal government has continued to play ‘hanky panky ‘with them over funding of universities, particularly, in implementing existing agreements.
According to the source, the union is mostly pained that despite its resolve to guarantee an uninterrupted academic calendar at the citadel of learning, the government is busy playing politics with them.
The source revealed that the union is tired of attending meetings with the Minister of Education where all negotiations and resolutions are not implemented.
It was also gathered that the government and ASUU team had recently reached a compromise where the sun of 150 billion naira was to be released as a revitalization fund,50 billion as Academic Earned Allowance, and another 30 billion respectively; again, the government reneged as monies are yet to be released as agreed.
The source further disclosed that the union resolved not to attend any meeting with the officials of the government unless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the Accountable General of the Federation to make the funds available.
“Look let me tell you, what ASUU wants is the immediate release of revitalization fund as well as AEA and all other of entitlement owed them by the government”
It was also learned that the union believes that both the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, are hiding certain facts from the President and are not telling the President the truth as it concerns public university education.
The reliable source noted that the only way to avert stile action by the body is for the president to intervene and order for the immediate release of the funds to the institutions and also honor agreements entered into with the union.
It was also gathered that the OAGF is frustrating all attempts geared towards releasing the fund.
According to the source, officials of the Accountant General’s office insist on fresh presidential approval to release funds to the universities across the country.
The highly dependable source revealed that at a recent meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa the AG, and the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, as well as other officials of the government it was agreed that the N 300 Billion captured in the 2023 appropriation Act but was not released be rolled – over to this year.
It was gathered that a letter signed by the Minister of Education and addressed to the Accountant General requesting that the money be rolled over to 2025 has already been dispatched.
The Union was said to be represented at the meeting by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who complained bitterly over the lack of political will by successive governments on the problem of the death of infrastructure and the welfare of members of the University community, including the knotty challenge of Earn allowance for members.
ASUU is also angered that the refusal of the government to release the university revitalization fund is gradually killing public universities, adding that infrastructure that could aid teaching and learning has become an eyesore in almost all the universities in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in 2009 reached an agreement with ASUU for the provision of 1.3 trillion on annual tranches of N220 billion over a period of 5 years as intervention funds for the revitalization of universities.
A review of the agreement was done in 2014. However, it is yet to be implemented, resulting in several industrial actions by ASUU, which distorts the academic calendar in the ivory tower.
Investigation revealed that efforts by the Federal Ministry of Education to prevent the strike action under the Tinubu-led government will might become history, if the Accountant General of the Federation keeps creating conditions that make the implementation of the agreements difficult, thereby, hampering the release of the University revitalization fund which was done based on needs assessments of the public universities.
Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), says the scheme will begin paying N77,000 to corps members as an allowance in March 2025.
The brigadier general spoke at the NYSC zonal offices in Wuse and Garki, Abuja on Thursday.
Nafiu said the scheme prioritises the welfare of corps members.
He urged them to remain disciplined and dedicated to national service.
The brigadier emphasised the NYSC’s role in fostering national unity and cultural integration.
He pledged that the management would continue to uphold values of patriotism, leadership, and teamwork among corps members.
“NYSC is good at record-keeping. I can assure you that your money will be paid. The nation and the scheme appreciate you,” Nafiu said.
Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu assumed office as the 23rd DG of the NYSC on March 6, 2025, succeeding Yusha’u Ahmed.
After taking over office, he pledged to address pending concerns around corps member welfare.
Corps members receive a monthly stipend from the federal government to support their basic needs during the service year.
The allowance has been periodically reviewed in response to economic realities, with the last significant increase occurring in 2020 when it was raised to N33,000 following the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The latest increment to N77,000 aligns with the recent adjustment of the national minimum wage.