Is PTDF Scholarship Based On Merit?

By Hussaini Hussaini

I received two emails from the Petroleum Technology Development
Fund (PTDF) on the 23^rd 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
hussaini4good@gmail.com

By Hussaini Hussaini

I received two emails from the Petroleum Technology Development
Fund (PTDF) on the 23^rd 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
hussaini4good@gmail.com