Is PTDF Scholarship Based On Merit?

By Hussaini Hussaini

I received two emails from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) on the 23rd of August, 2021 bordering on the scholarships granted by the institution. One email wrongly addressed me as a successful scholar, while the other came later to inform me that the first email was an error and same should be disregarded. I have applied for the PTDF scholarship several times without even getting invited for any test at any moment whatsoever. As a government institution I believe it will only be fair if all citizens who applied for scholarships are generally invited and the best of them are selected and awarded. In order to proof what has always been in public about the award of PTDF scholarship, I made an experiment via a post on my Facebook wall and called for people’s comment about their experience. Below is my main post and people’s reaction which I hope the relevant bodies will consider.

MY POST

“I have written several scholarship examinations and have enjoyed some from both public and private sectors over the years and I am witness to several people enjoying such scholarships.

What is common about those scholarship granting institutions is that they have standard test systems on how to examine applicants and almost all applicants one knows are invited and given “fair hearing” through tests and the best of them are awarded through transparent process. A typical example of fair institutions as attested by even those who failed is NITDA during Pantami and Kashifu. I don’t know how PTDF do their scholarships (most especially Int’l scholarships) authentication or how transparent is their process, but I am sure that it’s a scholarship which several people passionately applied but few people talk about enjoying it. Please share your thoughts. I may be wrong“

PEOPLE’S COMMENTS

Khalid Garba Aminu

“PTDF is not for anyone I know a couple of people that got it without even applying through the normal process”

Ahmed Zakaria

“I have a lot of people that got PTDF scholarship, you just need to fulfill the criteria and requirements, most of those who studied Chemistry and Scientific courses have more and better opportunities in succeeding”

Abdulrahman Baba-Ahmed

“For a fact I know people that got it not through the generally publicized process.“

When asked to clarify his above statement he said:

“ Hussaini Hussaini I mean I know people that got it through back door.”

Najib Isma’il

“ I havent been luck with it but I know scores who have enjoyed it on merit. Though, there are highly connected who get it underground.”

Sani Abdullahi Bala

“ Many of the online processes are just there for some reasons but the main business is done out of sight ”

Shehu Lawal

“I applied for the overseas category in 2017, invited and sat for the altitude test but finally not called. In the same batch, my then Senator sent some people amongst whom I knew 5 from my Local Government even without application and/or taking the test.They all finished now.“

Muntasir Dauda

“ The same emails were sent to my brother. We have for long resiled from being disappointed about things like this. Its becoming normal in Nigeria.”

Yahaya Musa

“ The odds that you’re wasting your time by applying anything to be determined in Nigeria is astronomically high. And I’ve a feeling that you already know it. There’s less than one percent chance that you’ll get a PTDF slot however qualified you’re if the slot wasn’t given to you by somebody. And I’m not a pessimist; it’s the bitter reality. Among the few extraordinarily lucky ones that they gives to the unconnected candidates, somehow the people at the helm of the affairs still have this outdated, stupid even, belief that only science and science related courses are worthy. So, you’ll discover that even among the one in a million chances, it’s a science student. Advice: apply for a better international options like Chevening and Common Wealth scholarships. Though extremely competitive in nature, you stand a better hell of a chance in getting help internationally than in your own country. Such a sad reality.”

My Conclusion:

In all the above comments it appears to me scary that only one believes in the integrity of the PTDF Scholarship process.

With the dwindling security situation coupled with deep hate and resentment of the masses against all who wears ties or have a car and a place he calls office, there is no better time that the elite and most especially the political class in Nigeria should prioritise meritocracy than now. It should be unfortunate and with all manner of respect, shameful, that one will take his child to the best school in Abuja or Lagos, but same person is afraid to match same child to compete with a poor child who attended the neglected LEA and Government Secondary School Ba’kin Haure on a fair ground. This attitude of taking all the resources and centralizing all job and other opportunities in the hands of the powerful and the connected is making the idea of schooling so unattractive amongst the masses and the result is showing itself in all the manner of crimes bedeviling the country. The earlier this is addressed, the better for all of us. May God save Nigeria.

Hussaini Hussaini writes from Abuja and can be reached via [email protected]