The Federal Government is set to unveil the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna, in partnership with the University of Portsmouth, among other UK universities.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Portsmouth in a significant move to enhance Nigeria’s energy sector.
A statement by the development fund on Monday said the college, owned by the PTDF, aims to become a world-class training institute for the energy industry in Nigeria and Africa.
The partnership involves running postgraduate programs in Engineering, Applied & Earth Sciences, Computing & Telecommunication Technology, Health, Safety & Environment, and Business Management through an International Joint Venture approach.
It noted that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, recently inspected the facility, expressing satisfaction with the state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The college is expected to save Nigeria significant foreign exchange by training Nigerians locally instead of abroad.
The National University Commission has granted the college a license to operate as a private postgraduate university, with nineteen take-off programs across six departments and three faculties.
The Petroleum minister said, “It is quite pleasing, at a time like this when the global energy system is rapidly transforming and in search of alternatives, to create this long-term partnership with the University of Portsmouth that essentially defines shared commitment and vision.
“I am equally delighted to emphasise the importance of this collaboration in our various efforts of translating into action the renewed hope agenda of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is pertinent to note that my presence in Portsmouth is a demonstration of the level of support this collaboration enjoys from the Nigerian government.
“As we are all aware, the Federal Executive Council, which is the highest decision-making body in Nigeria, in May 2023 approved an operating licence through the National Universities Commission to enable the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies Kaduna to operate as a private postgraduate university with 19 take-off programmes spread across 3 faculties and 6 departments.
“The College is aimed at serving as a vehicle to accelerate the domestication process of PTDF’s Human Capacity Development Programmes. In this way, the standards and quality that PTDF scholars enjoy abroad will be retained. It is also expected that other players in the industry, both public and private, will likewise patronize the College for their training needs.
“We are fully in support of this Joint Venture framework between PTDF and partner universities to deliver postgraduate degrees at the College in Kaduna.
This is in consonance with the Nigerian government’s transnational higher education policy.
Accordingly, the execution of this partnership agreement has passed the rigorous process of approval by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation of Nigeria”.
In his remarks, the PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating that it marks a major milestone in the Fund’s efforts to domesticate high-end education and training programs in the oil and gas sector.
“We have nurtured for many years the relationship with the University of Portsmouth anchored on shared ideas that culminated in signing the MoU and Partnership Agreement.
The PTDF visit to Portsmouth on the 16th of April 2019 to explore the possibility of partnership made a significant impact in shaping our understanding and the intention to obtain a licence from the National Universities Commission to run postgraduate programmes in Kaduna.
“The University of Portsmouth shared insights from its diverse academic relationships and experiences in Oman and Singapore and recommended that CPESK adopt a model that is fit for purpose and less bureaucratic.
“We sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the many years of interactions with the University of Portsmouth and guidance from Chris Chang, Prof. Pal Ahluwalia, Mark Shaw, Neil Weston, Kathryn Land, Dr Julia Brown, Dr Malcolm Whitworth, Joe Hall, and the Vice Chancellor Prof. Graham Galbraith. We appreciate the efforts of Jamie Hastings and Mrs Jenny Hyde as well.
“It is worthy of note that PTDF and CPESK have signed MoUs and Partnership Agreements with Robert Gordon University and University of Strathclyde on the 16th and 17th of December 2024 in Aberdeen and Glasgow, respectively. This signing of the MoU and Partnership Agreement with the University of Portsmouth is part of the pilot phase involving three United Kingdom universities within the planned operation framework of the College.
“PTDF, as the Proprietor of the College, is fundamentally committed to ensuring that CPESK adheres to global best practice and approved international quality assurance standards”.
This development is part of PTDF’s broader strategy to promote sustainable capacity development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
By partnering with renowned international institutions like the University of Portsmouth, PTDF aims to bridge the knowledge gap and equip Nigerian professionals with the skills and expertise required to drive growth and innovation in the sector.
