Nigeria is set to establish the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies (CPES) in Kaduna, in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth and other leading UK universities. Owned by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the college is poised to become a world-class training hub for the energy sector in Nigeria and Africa. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will offer postgraduate programs in engineering, earth sciences, computing, health and safety, and business management via an international joint venture framework.

During a recent inspection of the state-of-the-art facility, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed satisfaction with its progress and infrastructure. He emphasized the initiative’s role in reducing foreign exchange outflows by training professionals locally and highlighted the college’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of fostering domestic capacity. With approval from the National Universities Commission, the college will commence operations as a private postgraduate university, offering 19 programs across three faculties and six departments.

PTDF Executive Secretary Ahmed Galadima Aminu lauded the milestone as a transformative step toward domestication of high-end education in the oil and gas sector. He underscored the significance of collaborations with global institutions like the University of Portsmouth, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Strathclyde to maintain international quality standards. Through these partnerships, PTDF aims to empower Nigerian professionals with cutting-edge expertise, driving innovation and sustainability in the nation’s energy industry.