The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said in Abuja last week that it had concluded plans to sponsor 70 undergraduates to China for training in oil and gas related courses.
The Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr. Oluleye Oluwole, made this known at an orientation/induction programme for the selected candidates.
Oluwole, represented by Mr. Balarabe Ahmed, the fund’s General Manager, Legal and Secretariat Services, said the scholarship was part of Federal Government’s post-amnesty special training programme for youths.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said in Abuja last week that it had concluded plans to sponsor 70 undergraduates to China for training in oil and gas related courses.
The Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr. Oluleye Oluwole, made this known at an orientation/induction programme for the selected candidates.
Oluwole, represented by Mr. Balarabe Ahmed, the fund’s General Manager, Legal and Secretariat Services, said the scholarship was part of Federal Government’s post-amnesty special training programme for youths.
He said based on the huge successes recorded in the training of scholars at MSC and PhD levels over the years, the fund decided that it will also be beneficial to Nigeria if youths were given more opportunities.
“It will greatly benefit the country if our youths are given the opportunity to explore undergraduate programmes under the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.’’
The PTDF boss said the four-year program at the Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, China, was meant to train and equip the students to become professionals in the oil and gas sector.
“You are benefitting from this programme at this auspicious time when the Federal Government has designed various programmes to engage our youths.
“This will enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development and keep them away from militancy and mischief making’’, he said.
He advised the youths to be disciplined, hard working and good ambassadors of the nation.
Mr Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), urged the students to be patriotic while in China.
Represented by Mr Cyprian Ikyo, the NOA Director of Mass Mobilisation, Omeri also urged the students to shun examination malpractice which he described as a menace in Nigeria’s education system.
He called on the PTDF to put in place an appropriate machinery to monitor the activities of the students.
The officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Education Resource Centre were also on hand to give the students pep-talk on being good ambassadors of the country.
Mr. Hassan Samaila, who spoke on behalf of the students, promised to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and pledged to contribute their quote to the development of the oil and gas industry upon completion of their studies.
The PTDF is statutorily responsible for training and human capacity building and institutional development in the nation’s oil and gas industry.
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