By ebosele@hotmail.com
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the British High Commission have explored opportunities to strengthen educational cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with emphasis on postgraduate training, joint research and institutional capacity development.
City Business News reports that the proposed collaboration is expected to support the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Kaduna, while expanding opportunities for Nigerian and African scholars to access internationally recognised qualifications.
The discussions took place during a visit to the university by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Pete Vowles, where PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, outlined the Fund’s vision for a stronger partnership with leading UK institutions.
Prof. Aliyu described the United Kingdom as a longstanding partner in PTDF’s efforts to develop local expertise for Nigeria’s energy sector, stressing the need to shift greater attention towards strengthening institutional capacity within the country.
“Together, these priorities reflect PTDF’s transition from funding education to building national capability,” he said.
The proposed areas of collaboration include expanded split-site postgraduate programmes, executive certificate courses, faculty exchanges and joint research initiatives.
Priority research areas would cover hydrogen technology, carbon capture, cleaner fossil-fuel technologies and the integration of renewable energy.
Under the proposed arrangement, more Nigerian and African scholars could earn internationally recognised qualifications while undertaking a greater proportion of their studies and research at the Kaduna-based university.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen local expertise, promote knowledge transfer and enhance the university’s capacity to contribute to technological advancement in the energy sector.
However, Prof. Aliyu drew attention to challenges confronting PTDF-sponsored scholars in the United Kingdom, particularly high tuition fees and visa application refusals.
He called for stronger coordination among PTDF, UK universities and other relevant stakeholders to address the concerns and ensure that deserving scholars can benefit from the partnership.
Responding, Vowles acknowledged the issues raised and pledged to engage relevant stakeholders in the United Kingdom to explore possible solutions.
“We will take these concerns away as a team and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders within the UK system,” he said.
