Why PTDF scholarship applicants are interested in AI, data science, others – Official

By Ibukun Emiola

Dr Hammajam Adamu, Head Panelist, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarship Scheme 2023, says applicants interviewed for the scheme have shown interest in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Cloud Computing.

Adamu, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday at the ongoing PTDF scholarship interviews for Ibadan zone, said these were technologies that would help the oil and gas sector.

Adamu said: “I am happy to see that Nigeria has a huge potential, which are young people who are aware of what is happening around the world and who have put themselves forth to solve the country’s problems, particularly those relating to oil and gas.

“We have seen that some of the applicants are interested in artificial intelligence, research in data science and cloud computing.

“They are interested in seeing how these technologies can come together as an ecosystem to help them deliver solutions for the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Adamu said that the PTDF management was able to identify some of the best students with a view to support them, adding: “We believe we need to send our best so as to justification the money spent on them.”

The PTDF chief, who is also the Head of Research, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, said he was also a beneficiary of the programme during his Master and PhD programmes in Security Privacy and Data Protection.

He said that he had been using the knowledge gained from the programme to develop the country in spite of having offers to stay in the United Kingdom.

He urged the successful applicants, who would be the recipients of the scholarship, to return and build Nigeria as a way of appreciating the fund spent on him.

Also, the Team Lead, Ibadan Zone, Oversea Scholarship Scheme, PTDF, Mr Tajudeen Ibiyeye, said that the organisation had been sending scholars abroad for them to gain knowledge in the field of oil and gas.

“From Ibadan zone, we are looking at 659 applicants for M.Sc and 164 for PhD,” he said, adding that the exercise would be taking place in all the six geo-political zones, with 5,000 applicants shortlisted for this stage.”

He said that the successful applicants were expected to return to Nigeria and deploy the skills and knowledge gained.

One of the applicants, Mr Ibukun Nubi, from Olabisi Onabanjo University, expressed optimism about his application, being his second time of applying for the grant.

Nubi said that he would like to gain knowledge about how industries were being run by other countries with a view to replicating same in Nigeria.

 

(NAN)