RGU partnership enables new energy doctoral programme in Nigeria

The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian capacity-building agency for the energy industry, PTDF, as well as an agreement between the two organisations and the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK) to deliver up to 45 split-site energy PhDs for Nigerian students over the next three years. 

A senior Nigerian delegation visited RGU this week to officially sign the MoU and agreement that will see students on the three year-programme split their time between the University’s campus in Aberdeen and CPESK in Nigeria. The agreement builds on RGU’s existing partnership with PTDF to increase international doctorial study opportunities for Nigerian students.

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of RGU, said: “International partnership growth is integral to our global influence as we look to develop knowledge exchange and educational opportunities worldwide to support economic development.

“This agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between RGU and PTDF which has provided funding opportunities to study at RGU for over 400 Nigerian students.  We are committed to working in partnership with scholarship bodies and organisations overseas, and this new PhD programme recognises the importance of collaborating to create international doctoral pathways with Nigeria.

“We are grateful to have been able to further build on our ongoing relationship with PTDF, as well as have the opportunity to host a wide range of senior individuals from both the energy and education sectors in Nigeria.”

The delegation consisted of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Ahmed Galadima Aminu, Executive Secretary of PTDF; Chris Maiyaki, Ag Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; and Dr. Munir Zubairu Sirajo, Head, CPESK, while hosting from RGU was Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice Chancellor; and Donella Beaton, Vice Principal Economic Development.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri reiterated the full support of the Nigerian government to this partnership initiative, which is in consonance with the country’s transnational education policy. He emphasised the commitment of the Nigerian government to ensuring that the quality and standard of education PTDF scholars enjoy in UK is also delivered at CPESK.

Mr. Ahmed Galadima Aminu, Executive Secretary PTDF, added: “The signing of the MoU and the Partnership Agreement is another exciting milestone in the long-term relationship PTDF and RGU have had. RGU has always provided PTDF with the necessary support through its commercial arm, Univation. Over 2 decades ago, in 2001 when the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS), was at its infancy stage, Univation was the consultant for the OSS, a partnership which tremendously impacted on the scheme to grow as one of the best scholarships in the world.

“Indeed, we have taken many steps in the past to effectively utilise the potentials of CPESK and I can vividly recall the visit to RGU in Nov. 2016, the outcome of which refocused and shaped our initial thoughts to one where we committed to securing a university education licence from the National Universities Commission to run postgraduate programmes.”

Chris J. Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission commented: “The MOU signing ceremony between Nigerian government officials at the highest level with officials of RGU, Aberdeen on the foreseen energy doctorate programme, lends credence to the paradigm shift and current priorities/efforts at the NUC aimed at spearheading the production of a critical mass of PhDs to drive critical thinking, cutting edge research and top notch postgraduate studies around the specifics of oil and gas capacity from some of the best academic traditions to be found in the British isle.

“It is a watershed and milestone game changing opportunity in our quest to fully implement the recently launched Nigerian guidelines on Transnational Education, as we collectively seek to showcase the power of innovative collaboration and opportunities. We look forward to bringing to bear NUC’s regulatory citadel and a TNE ecosystem that ensures the delivery of TNE provisions that are of a comparable standard, sustainable and mutually beneficial in expanding access and broadening equity in higher education thereby scaling up the frontier of knowledge. May this development be a true testament to the brighter days that lie ahead of our two higher education systems.”

Image 1 includes, L-R: Munir Zubairu Sirajo, Head, College of Petroleum and Energy Studies Kaduna; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Ahmed Galadima Aminu, Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund; Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, RGU; and Dr. Chris Maiyaki, Ag. Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission.