Topic: PTDF TAKE OVER OF OSS MANAGEMENT; THE CHALLENGES

As at today, PTDF is managing the Overseas Scholarship Scheme. Before now we had a consultant based in UK called UNIVATION LTD and we decided to disengage the consultant to save costs. This is because we were paying a total of one point one million pounds to the consultant, about three hundred million naira yearly to the consultant.



From the savings, we were able to sponsor additional students for the scholarship thus creating the opportunity for more Nigerians to benefit from the programme.



I will only appeal for patience on the part of Nigerians particularly the beneficiaries and not to stampede PTDF into making mistakes. “Nigerians want to push you to making mistakes and we will not succumb to that”.


The fact is that for each new scholar, we have paid all allowances due to them up to date, including accommodation and tuition fees. We had to send our Head of Education and Training Division to the UK for one month to ensure that all these payments were effected. Also all PhD scholars who commenced this academic session have been paid their allowances, accommodation and tuition. What remains are remittances for scholars who were being paid by our former consultant, UNIVATION before our take over of the programme.



There are of course some outstanding payments to be made for which we have signed and processed the payment documents. But the problem we are facing is that some of the scholars gave incorrect bank details to us and this has created some delays “They delay themselves and expect miracles from us”. We are conscientious in ensuring that these scholars received their entitlements in good time and we will continue to strive towards that objective.



Another set of scholars who may be raising issues with the Fund include a class of Nigerians who were not sponsored to UK by the Fund. These are people who were already working and schooling in the United Kingdom, but due to the recession were no longer able to support their studies abroad due to job losses. We do assist such class of Nigerians but they have to follow the due process established for the award of the scholarships. Scholars with genuine complaints are advised to e-mail the Fund using the electronic mail address issued to them before their departure.


We appreciate that any new innovation has its costs and problems. We are conscious of these problems but we are doing all we can to ensure that things are not made difficult for the scholars. Having taken over the management of OSS, we remain committed, dedicated and devoted to getting it right, and there is no going back.



Executive Secretary, PTDF, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, reacting to complaints by some scholars that the Fund has not paid their sponsorship allowances.

N300m that can sponsor about half more the normal number of candidates. Wow...eventhough outsourcing is sometimes good I'd rather they enxpand their Education and Training division to take this over, regardless of overhead costs...this is outrageous