Abuja: The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has reaffirmed its commitment to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Prof. Shu’aibu Aliyu, the Executive Secretary of PTDF and Chairman of the Governing Council, made this announcement while inaugurating an academic programmes review committee for General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Kaduna.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aliyu highlighted that the PTDF had established two specialized institutions to meet the evolving needs of the global energy industry. These institutions are the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Kaduna and the Centre for Skills Development and Training in Port Harcourt. Aliyu explained that the management of PTDF conceived the idea of establishing these two centres to strengthen the Nigerian economy and address capital flight.
He stated that the university would focus on postgraduate education, advanced research, and innovation, while the Port Harcourt centre would train middle-level technical manpower, including technicians and artisans. He also noted that the university, previously known as the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, had been licensed by the National Universities Commission. ‘The recent presidential announcement to make the centre a university demonstrates the political commitment to fully raise the potential that aligns with the vision of Mr President,’ he said.
Aliyu emphasized that the university would deliver internationally competitive education through partnerships with leading universities in the United Kingdom and other countries. The PTDF has introduced a Split-Site programme where students undertake part of their studies in Nigeria and part at partner universities abroad. This initiative aims to domesticate specialized training, reduce foreign exchange expenditure on overseas education, and strengthen local institutions and scholars to international best practices.
The Executive Secretary revealed that the fund was supporting workforce development for projects including the AKK Gas Pipeline, UTM Floating LNG, and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline. According to him, PTDF is aligning its academic programmes with strategic national energy projects such as the AKK Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, the OB3 Gas Trunkline, Olokola LNG, and several deepwater oil developments.
He assured that the fund was also preparing talent for emerging opportunities associated with Bonga Southwest Aparo, Owowo, Zabazaba-Etan, OB3 Gas Trunk Line, Olokola LNG, Dangote, and expanding indigenous operators. The fund’s long-term vision is to develop a workforce trained and employed in Nigeria through institutional strengthening and strategic industry partnerships.
The Executive Secretary urged the committee to review the university’s academic programmes, research facilities, digital infrastructure, and institutional performance to position it as a globally competitive centre of excellence. Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Mr. Umar Ibrahim, expressed that the assignment was both a national and continental responsibility. He emphasized that Africa could no longer depend on foreign countries for the financing, technology, and markets required to develop its petroleum resources. ‘We see this assignment not only as a national responsibility but as a continental one,’ he said, assuring PTDF that the committee would produce practical recommendations capable of laying a lasting foundation for Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future.