Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a step toward enhancing local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with two Scottish institutions — Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, and the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
The agreement, signed by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, aims to transfer advanced knowledge and expertise to the College of Petroleum & Energy Studies in Kaduna.
According to Lokpobiri, the initiative will enable more professionals to receive high-quality training domestically while maintaining global standards, reducing costs, and expanding access to world-class education.
He maintained that the partnership underscores PTDF’s strategic focus on fostering sustainable growth in the energy sector by leveraging international expertise to meet domestic industry demands
“Capacity building is key to the success of our oil and gas sector, and achieving this domestically offers significant benefits in terms of cost savings and the ability to train a larger number of professionals,” Lokpobiri said during the ceremony.
The Minister noted that the Scottish universities have been trusted partners of PTDF for years, having supported the training of foreign-sponsored scholars.
“With this agreement, we are bringing their expertise directly to Nigeria to bolster local capacity,” he added.
Lokpobiri emphasized that the collaboration reflects the government’s commitment to aligning global best practices with local needs. “This ensures that our oil and gas sector remains competitive and self-sustaining for years to come,” he stated.
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