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.

Shu’aibu Aliyu, the executive secretary of PTDF and chairman of the governing council, said this while inaugurating the academic programmes review committee for General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology on Friday in Kaduna.

He said the fund established two specialised institutions to meet the evolving needs of the global energy industry.

He said the institutions were 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.

Mr Aliyu said the management of PTDF conceived the idea of establishing two centres to strengthen the Nigerian economy and address capital flight.

According to him, the university will focus on postgraduate education, advanced research and innovation, while the Port Harcourt centre will train middle-level technical manpower, including technicians and artisans.

He said the university, formerly known as the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, has 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.

Mr Aliyu said it would deliver internationally competitive education through partnerships with leading universities in the United Kingdom and other countries.

He explained that PTDF was introduced into a split-site programme under which students would undertake part of their studies in Nigeria and part at partner universities abroad.

Mr Aliyu said that the initiative was designed to domesticate specialised training, reduce foreign exchange expenditure on overseas education and strengthen local institutions and scholars to international best practices.

The executive secretary said 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, including the AKK gas pipeline, the trans-Saharan gas pipeline, the OB3 gas trunkline, Olokola LNG and several deepwater oil developments.

He assured 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.

He further said the fund’s long-term vision was 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, Umar Ibrahim, said the assignment was both a national and continental responsibility.

He said 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.

He assured PTDF that the committee would produce practical recommendations capable of laying a lasting foundation for Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future.

(NAN)