A leading United Kingdom-based institution, Loughborough University, has commenced talks with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund to expand scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students, particularly in the fields of oil, gas, and renewable energy.
The discussions were disclosed during a press briefing held in Abuja on Monday, where senior officials from the university highlighted their intention to establish a long-term and strategic partnership with Nigeria through the PTDF.
Speaking at the event, the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, Prof. Sam Grogan, explained that the collaboration would focus on capacity building and skills development.
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“The purpose of us wanting to work with the PTDF around scholarships is again around aligning some of our work around capacity building to ensure that it supports the infrastructure capacity building and the skills pipeline to service that around, in this instance, oil and gas and renewable energy,” he said.
According to him, the engagement with PTDF is not designed to be a short-term gesture, but a sustainable commitment aimed at fostering long-lasting impact.
“We’re not interested in being here for one year and not coming back. What we’re interested in is getting in for a long-term, sustainable relationship that actually makes a long-term difference to the world,” he added.
Grogan also noted that the university had already recorded success stories involving Nigerian graduates, including a former PTDF scholar who now works with the university and another alumnus who has risen to the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor at a Nigerian university.
He further revealed that the university had discussed various options with PTDF, including full scholarships, short courses, and postgraduate programmes, all aimed at expanding access for Nigerian students.
Grogan said nearly half of the university’s students participate in industry placements during their degree programmes, a model that enhances employability and global competitiveness.
Also speaking, a Professor of Behavioural Medicine at Loughborough, Prof. Amanda Daley, stressed the university’s commitment to equitable partnerships with African countries.
Daley, who leads one of the university’s research centres, noted that Nigerian students who have studied at Loughborough not only gained knowledge but also contributed valuable perspectives that improved the university’s own work.
She added that with non-communicable diseases increasingly affecting populations in both the UK and Nigeria, the need for collaborative health research and knowledge exchange had become even more urgent.
The university’s Global Engagement Officer, Florence Mutero, also addressed journalists at the briefing.
She noted that while Loughborough ranks among the UK’s top ten institutions, it offers tuition and living costs that are relatively affordable due to its location in Leicestershire.
Mutero, who is a former student of the university, said several scholarship opportunities were available to African students.
These include a 20 per cent “Creating Better Futures” tuition reduction for all African offer-holders, as well as merit-based awards such as the African Development Scholarship, Global Impact Scholarship, and a range of subject-specific and sports scholarships.
She said, “For students that play at a very competitive level, a high level, they can get a sports scholarship as well. We also have a Computer Science Scholarship for underrepresented groups, including Black students, women and persons with disabilities.”
According to her, tuition fees range between £26,000 and £32,000 annually, depending on the programme, while living expenses tend to be lower than in larger UK cities.
Loughborough University is ranked number one in the world for sports-related subjects and has placed particular emphasis on integrating academic excellence with industry experience.
The university says it is keen to position Nigerian students for global leadership roles and impact-driven careers.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the Petroleum Technology Development Fund expressed concern that many of its trained personnel are being retained in the United States and the United Kingdom due to the lack of employment opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
This comes as the PTDF begins collaborating with oil and gas industries in the country to ensure students, particularly those trained abroad through its scholarship scheme, are employed in key positions.
