By Adeola Akinbobola
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has called for the support of the Nigerian Army in securing the Fund’s College of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, and the Centre for Skills Development and Training, Port Harcourt.
Prof. Shu’aibu Aliyu, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, made the call on Friday while receiving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Aliyu said the facilities were significant national investments in specialised education, technical training, research and capacity development.
He called for an appropriate security arrangement between the Nigerian Army and the two centres.
Aliyu said such partnership would facilitate prompt response in emergencies and provide additional protection for the facilities, as well as their staff, students and trainees.
According to him, the security collaboration is important given the strategic role of the centres in developing specialised skills for Nigeria’s oil, gas and energy sectors.
He said the Chief of Army Staff’s visit was an important step towards deepening institutional cooperation between the two institutions in education, ICT development and the protection of strategic national training infrastructure.
Aliyu assured the Army leadership that PTDF remained ready to explore practical areas of collaboration consistent with its mandate and capable of delivering lasting value to Nigeria.
He also expressed appreciation for the Nigerian Army’s sacrifices in defending Nigeria’s peace, unity and territorial integrity.
“The PTDF remains the nation’s foremost vehicle for building indigenous capacity in the oil, gas, and energy sector through research, and strategic institutions such as our centres of excellence.
“It is this mandate, to build the human capital that powers Nigeria’s energy industry and, by extension, shapes every partnership we pursue.
“Our partnership with the Nigerian military is already in motion. Under the PTDF In-Country Scholarship Scheme, we currently sponsor scholars at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
“Beyond the Academy, Government Day Secondary School, Army Barracks, Yola, Adamawa, stands among the beneficiary schools of our PTDF STEM Programme.
“The programme is to nurture the next generation of Nigerian scientists and engineers within a military community,” he said.
Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Shaibu, called for stronger collaboration between the two institutions to strengthen the military’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.
The Army Chief commended the organisation for its previous support for the professional development of Nigerian Army personnel.
He said the Army was particularly interested in developing expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology.
According to him, the Army wants to develop a critical mass of skilled personnel who can eventually contribute to the establishment of indigenous capacity for the development of unmanned aerial systems in Nigeria.
The Army Chief also called for continued assistance for the upgrading and equipping of Command Secondary Schools.
He said the schools were an important welfare component for military personnel and their families.
He lauded the Fund’s support for Command Secondary Schools in Yola and its pledge to support additional schools.
According to him, the increase investment in education, training and technology will help reduce the need to send personnel abroad for specialised training while strengthening domestic expertise.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba