The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has raised alarms about the increasing trend of Nigerian students who, after being sponsored abroad for studies and research in the oil and gas sector, choose to remain overseas instead of returning to contribute to the country’s development.
Speaking at a recent sensitization and capacity-building program in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Bola Agboola, the Head of PTDF’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme, addressed the growing challenge faced by Nigeria’s oil and gas industry due to this phenomenon.
Agboola highlighted that while PTDF has trained thousands of students in countries like the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and China, many of them have failed to return home after completing their studies, opting to settle in these nations where they find better employment opportunities and financial stability.
“Due to a lack of adequate employment opportunities within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, many of our beneficiaries choose to remain in countries where they can quickly secure jobs with better compensation packages,” Agboola said. She pointed out that PTDF’s goal is to bring these students back to Nigeria, where their skills and research could play a key role in addressing some of the country’s pressing problems.
Agboola expressed regret over the scattered nature of PTDF’s alumni, noting that over 8,000 students have been sponsored by the scheme since its inception. While these students have received valuable training, many have found it difficult to reintegrate into the local job market. “Our investments are retained overseas, in countries such as the US, UK, and Canada. There is also the challenge that when these trained professionals return to Nigeria, they struggle to secure jobs in the oil and gas industry,” Agboola noted.
In response to these concerns, PTDF is actively working on strategies to ensure these talented individuals are encouraged to return and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth. One of the solutions being explored is strengthening collaborations between PTDF and the oil and gas industry to improve job opportunities for trained professionals.
Agboola also mentioned the ongoing efforts to diversify PTDF’s funding sources. The organization has relied heavily on licensing fees, but this funding model is no longer sufficient to sustain its operations. She affirmed that PTDF remains fully committed to building indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Asefon Dayo, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Student Engagement, praised PTDF for its continued investment in human capital development. He emphasized the importance of providing youth with access to opportunities to help shape the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. “The oil and gas sector is no longer a space for only technical experts. It now requires a multi-disciplinary approach, involving policy analysts, environmental scientists, digital innovators, and more,” Dayo said.
Oladoja Olushola, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), also addressed the event, urging students to take the opportunity provided by PTDF seriously. He encouraged them to embrace innovation and take on the responsibility of being role models for future generations of professionals in the oil and gas sector.
“NANS will continue to advocate for more inclusive and impactful student-centered interventions to ensure no student is left behind,” Olushola stated.
