The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) of Nigeria has announced new conditions for universities looking to benefit from its upgrade programme.

According to the Daily Independent, PTDF executive secretary Muttaqha Rabe Darma has revealed that university departments applying for a PTDF upgrade must now offer accredited oil and gas industry training courses.

On top of this, they must also demonstrate the ability to contribute to the oil and gas industry through scientific and technical research.

Mr Darma noted that some international oil companies are reluctant to recruit Nigerian university graduates due to a view that they lack the appropriate training and skills.

He told the newspaper that any university benefitting from a PTDF upgrade should also "be capable of attracting strong industry collaboration in the development of local capacity for Nigeria's oil and gas industry".

The executive secretary went on highlight the importance of local scholarships, adding that the PTDF must "continue strengthening the capacity of local institutions" in order to boost industry scholarships.

The fund is a branch of the Nigerian government's Ministry of Petroleum Resources and set up its Overseas Scholarship Scheme in 2001.

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