Dr. Abiodun Essiet Visits PTDF, Pushes Skills and Scholarship Drive for North Central Youths

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Abiodun Essiet, has paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu.

The visit centred on strategic investment in human capital, skills development and research, and how those interventions can strengthen Nigeria’s workforce and open more opportunities for young people, particularly in the North Central region.

Dr. Abiodun Essiet noted that for more than two decades, the PTDF has helped close the human-capacity gap in the petroleum industry through merit-based and inclusive scholarship programmes and research support. The Fund backs undergraduate study within Nigeria and postgraduate programmes, including Master’s and Ph.D. studies abroad.

She said the intervention goes beyond scholarships. With thousands of students supported over the years, the Fund also tracks the progress of beneficiaries so that spending on education becomes real human-capital development and contributes to the growth of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

Discussions also covered how the PTDF can do more on unemployment and the skills gap. Dr. Abiodun Essiet said both sides looked at expanding practical skills-development programmes for young and unemployed Nigerians, giving beneficiaries industry-ready skills and, where appropriate, start-up kits to help them move from training into sustainable livelihoods.

As the Fund prepares to open applications for this year’s annual scholarship scheme, the Executive Secretary thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continued support that has strengthened the agency’s capacity to deliver its mandate and pursue fresh approaches to human-capital development.

Dr. Abiodun Essiet’s office covers community engagement across the North Central, linking federal interventions to grassroots needs in the region.