The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has hailed the Petroleum Technology Development Fund’s (PTDF) College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the college on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Leading a delegation to the facility, Ms Osifo described the institution as Nigeria’s own “Harvard” of oil and gas, lauding PTDF for establishing a citadel of learning designed to build capacity for the nation’s energy sector.

He emphasised the college’s excellence and adherence to global standards, noting that it symbolised what the Nigerian oil and gas industry represented.

According to him, the institution will offer long-duration postgraduate programmes (MSc and PhD), as well as short professional courses, making world-class training accessible locally.

He also noted that PTDF scholarships covered all postgraduate students, making the programmes cost-effective and inclusive.

He added, “Training 200 students locally is more cost-effective than sending 20 abroad.’’

In his remarks, PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima, appreciated the PENGASSAN delegation for their visit and reiterated the college’s role in building human and institutional capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, as mandated by Act No. 25 of 1973.

He emphasised that the college was not only focused on training but also on empowering communities and ensuring that Nigeria’s energy sector remained globally competitive.

He explained that the Kaduna State-based college spans 86 hectares and includes state-of-the-art facilities such as academic wings, a 500-seat conference centre, guest rooms, a digital library, and more.

Mr Galadima stated that the National Universities Commission licensed the college to offer 19 postgraduate programmes across six departments and three faculties, with the first cohort of PhD students starting in September 2025.

He also highlighted partnerships with UK universities for split-site training and collaboration with NNPC Limited for professional development.

Mr Galadima added that more than 2,000 PhD applications were received, with 45 candidates selected, while 14,000 applied for master’s programmes, of which 250 would be admitted.

He added that PTDF had trained more than 15,000 Nigerians in the past two decades, many of whom now held key positions in major oil companies and academic institutions.

He noted that the new college would further strengthen the legacy by providing advanced training and development opportunities locally, thereby expanding the impact of PTDF’s capacity-building efforts. 

(NAN)