Tanya Davidson
Abuja — The Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, and the Nigerian Army are moving to strengthen security around the Fund’s strategic training institutions while expanding collaboration on human capital development and emerging security technologies.
The partnership was discussed when PTDF Executive Secretary, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, received the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Aliyu sought enhanced security cooperation for PTDF’s two Centres of Excellence, namely 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.
He proposed a security framework linking the Nigerian Army with both institutions to facilitate swift emergency response and provide additional protection for staff, students, researchers, trainees and critical educational infrastructure.
The PTDF Executive Secretary also reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting the training and capacity development of Nigerian Army personnel in line with its mandate.
He noted that PTDF had produced thousands of highly skilled professionals serving across Nigeria’s public and private sectors, including the Armed Forces.
Shaibu, in his remarks, called for deeper collaboration between the Army and PTDF in emerging technologies, particularly unmanned aerial systems, surveillance technologies and other security-related fields.
The Chief of Army Staff said evolving security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality, required sustained investment in advanced technologies and highly skilled personnel.
He commended PTDF for its longstanding support for the training and development of Army personnel, as well as its provision of ICT infrastructure to Command Secondary Schools.
Shaibu described the ICT initiative as a significant boost to digital literacy and technology-driven learning among young Nigerians.
The proposed security framework comes as PTDF continues to expand specialised training and technical capacity development through its strategic institutions, which support Nigeria’s human-capital needs in science, engineering and the wider energy sector.
