By Abbas Nazil
In an effort to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s energy sector, the federal government is planning to establish a College of Petroleum and Energy Studies (CPES) in Kaduna.
This initiative, a collaboration between the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the University of Portsmouth, is aimed at transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas education landscape.
The PTDF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Portsmouth towards the establishment of the institution.
The institution, to be controlled by PTDF, is to offer postgraduate programs in various fields including Engineering, Applied & Earth Sciences, Computing & Telecommunication Technology, Health, Safety & Environment, and Business Management.
The partnership adopts an International Joint Venture model to deliver these programs.
By establishing the college locally, Nigeria aims to save substantial foreign exchange, as it will reduce the need for students to seek similar education abroad.
The National University Commission has granted the college a license to operate as a private postgraduate institution, with 19 initial programs spread across three faculties and six departments.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, recently visited the facility and expressed his satisfaction with its state-of-the-art infrastructure.
He emphasized the importance of the collaboration with the University of Portsmouth, noting that it aligns with Nigeria’s broader energy transformation goals.
The minister said the Federal Executive Council approved the operational license for the college in May 2023.
The PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, also lauded the partnership, describing it as a major achievement in the Fund’s efforts to localize high-level education and training in the oil and gas sector.
He outlined the long-standing relationship between PTDF and the University of Portsmouth, which began in 2019 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping the project.
The partnership, he said, is part of PTDF’s broader strategy to enhance human capacity development in Nigeria’s energy sector, ensuring that local professionals receive top-tier education and skills training.
