The Petroleum Technology Development Fund has launched its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme selection interviews, with 424 candidates shortlisted for screening at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Northeast centre.

Of the total number, 266 applicants are competing for master’s degree placements, while 158 are seeking PhD opportunities under the scheme.

The interviews, which commenced on April 7, are scheduled to run until April 17 and are being held simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

At the Bauchi centre, the exercise began on Tuesday, with candidates undergoing assessment for limited slots in the competitive MSc and PhD programmes.

The Team Lead for the 2026 OSS interviews, Sirajo Abdullahi Fari, said the scholarship initiative is designed to develop skilled professionals for Nigeria’s energy sector.

He outlined the selection process as comprising three stages: system verification, document screening by PTDF officials, and final evaluation by independent consultants.

Fari noted that the Fund’s core mandate is to build human capacity to address workforce gaps in the oil and gas industry, adding that the scheme has been in operation for about two decades with measurable impact.

According to him, beneficiaries are trained in oil and gas-related disciplines at partner institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia and other European countries.

He said the programme aims to equip Nigerians with the expertise needed to reduce reliance on expatriates and strengthen local participation in the industry.

Candidates, he explained, are evaluated based on their academic records, the relevance of their research proposals to national priorities, and their ability to effectively present their ideas.

Fari added that assessors, who are specialists in their respective fields, pay particular attention to the practical value of research proposals, especially at the doctoral level.

He also cited feedback indicating that past beneficiaries are contributing significantly across the sector, including roles in major facilities such as the Dangote Refinery, as well as positions in international oil companies and academia.

On the integrity of the process, Fari said digital systems are used to ensure transparency, noting that applications are time-stamped and credentials thoroughly verified.

He emphasised that selection is strictly merit-based, irrespective of applicants’ background or affiliations.

Also speaking, a panelist, Professor Abubakar Isa Bello of Bayero University, Kano, said the exercise is conducted independently, with assessors making recommendations based solely on established guidelines, while the Fund takes the final decision.