By: Manoah Kikekon
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| College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna [Credit: Cpesk official website] |
Nigeria's quest for energy self-sufficiency and local expertise has received a monumental boost with the official endorsement of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund’s (PTDF) College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna.
The prestigious institution has been hailed as the nation's own "Harvard of oil and gas" by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
During a recent courtesy visit to the state-of-the-art campus, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, led a delegation and commended the PTDF for establishing a world-class citadel of learning. He emphasized that the college symbolizes excellence and strictly adheres to global standards, perfectly representing the future of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. A key advantage he highlighted is the incredible cost-effectiveness of training Nigerians locally, noting that "training 200 students locally is more cost-effective than sending 20 abroad."
The college is designed to be a comprehensive hub for energy education. It will offer long-duration postgraduate programmes, including MSc and PhD degrees, alongside short professional courses. In a major commitment to inclusivity and development, PTDF scholarships will cover all postgraduate students, ensuring that world-class training is accessible and affordable for Nigerian talent.
PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima, reiterated the college's critical role in fulfilling the Fund's mandate of building human and institutional capacity for Nigeria’s energy sector. The 86-hectare facility in Kaduna is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, including academic wings, a 500-seat conference centre, guest rooms, and a digital library.
The scale of interest has been overwhelming. Mr. Galadima revealed that the college received over 14,000 applications for its master's programmes, with 250 candidates selected. For its PhD programmes, a highly competitive process saw 45 candidates chosen from over 2,000 applications. The first cohort of PhD students is set to begin studies in September 2025.
The institution, licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer 19 postgraduate programmes, is already fostering global connections through partnerships with UK universities for split-site training and with NNPC Limited for professional development.
This initiative builds on the PTDF's legacy of training over 15,000 Nigerians in the past two decades, many of whom now hold key positions in major oil companies and academia. The new college is poised to dramatically expand this impact, ensuring Nigeria's energy sector remains globally competitive for decades to come.