The Petroleum Technology Development Fund has opened its portal for the 2025/2026 in country scholarship scheme, giving engineering and oil and gas related students in Nigerian Universities until Friday, May 29, 2026, to submit applications.

The Federal Government programme, which opened on Monday, April 20, 2026, targets undergraduate and postgraduate students in oil and gas related fields as part of efforts to build local technical capacity and reduce dependence on foreign expertise in Nigeria's energy sector.

Eligible candidates are to apply via the official portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng within the six week window.

The scheme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in approved oil and gas related courses across Nigerian Universities. It is separate from the PTDF overseas scholarship programme and is designed exclusively to support study within Nigeria's Tertiary Institutions. Selected beneficiaries receive tuition support, stipends and learning resources, with selection based on merit and relevance of study to national development priorities.

To apply, candidates are required to visit the portal and create an account using personal details, after which a login link and password setup instructions will be sent via email. Applicants must then log in, verify their National Identification Number and accept the programme disclaimer and terms before proceeding. PTDF warns against repeating failed NIN verification attempts to avoid multiple charges.

Candidates are required to complete all sections of the application form, selecting preferred Universities and courses as first, second and third choices. Postgraduate applicants must also upload a statement of purpose for the MSc or a research proposal for the PhD. Mandatory documents include academic certificates, birth certificate and local government identification, all in PDF format and below 300KB. Professional memberships and publications may also be uploaded where applicable.

Before final submission, candidates must preview their application to correct any errors. PTDF advises that once submitted, applications cannot be edited, and all information must be accurate before the final step is completed.

PTDF stated that the initiative supports human capital development within the energy sector and is aimed at strengthening institutional capacity across Nigeria.