2009/10 PTDF OVERSEAS MSC & PHD SHOLARS

Hello,

Congrats on your scholarship, i guess throwing up a bash wouldnt be too much to ask for...(if yu really know the worth of what you have) laf laf

On a more serious note, this is one of the very good things obasanjo did for this country and i hope people like you would appreciate it and return home to achieve the aim of the scholarship.. which is to add local content to the oil & gas industry and prevent further milking and draining of our resources by the western world. 90% of awardees dont come back home even after going through the PD programme, this i see as a great diservice to our country and the programme as a whole.

Forms are usually out between Oct - dec of every year , so would be interested candidates should be on the look out, its 95% merit driven and one more important thing.... you wouldnt really need an assistance after the programme because you would have been too important to be ignored by the industry.

Congratulations once again to the succesfull candidates, better luck for those not too lucky as we have more spaces next year.

Remember not to bite the fingers that have fed you by giving you this 'DIAMOND' opportunity.
PLEASE RETURN HOME AFTER YOUR PROGRAMME. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

de wise can you please send materials as well as past questions to me... i will really appreciate it. [email protected] is my addy.
thanks for that wonderful piece of information.

@waleomooba usound like u are a staff of ptdf, if you are plz let me hve ur number or email cos i have some issues to clarify b4 the induction, thanks

Guys i need info and preparatory materials on the next ptdf scholarship for masters in accounting/finance and petroleum accounting...pls i want to participate in the next test come oct(i guess) :) :'(

@Waleomoba......we all know that getting the PTDF scholarship is a diamond opportunity like u said.....but i beg to raise an issue with u one one account whether u work with PTDF or not......

PTDF spends to send the scholars abroad but what is prepared on ground for them here when they come back?????.....most of them dont come back because they get jobs over there and you do not expect them to leave that and come back to nigeria to start roaming the streets looking for a job.....I know a few MSc holders with good results from good universities in the uk and U.S whoa are in Nigeria today jobless.....what has PTDF set up on ground back in Nigeria for the scholars to come back to????what machinery is on ground to make sure they are absorbed into the oil and gas industry as is tipulated in the PTDF MISSION STATEMENT????

I would have thougt that PTDF would have mandated all oil and gas companies In Nigeria to employ a certain number of scholars as a matter of national policy....but the scholars have to fend for themselves.....We are all grateful for the good work ptdf is doing but truth is until they establish a good structure for ensuring the scholars are gainfully employed. They will still keep not coming back....I wouldnt come back to Nigeria if I had a job offer with BP UK Or anywhere else whereas back home what awaits me is unemployment or at best a job with a very miserly salary....Lets all be realistic here......At least the scholars still make Nigeria proud in the various countries they find themselves after their MSc and this is still a credit to PTDF..........who knows when the induction will be coming up???......I dont believe the 19th is a feasible date as it has always held in August.

Hello evry1 pls i need to know how to go abt it. heard of it before but thot it was just one of this numerous schemes that sdo not head anywhere. good to know that it's for real. would do sometin abt it. and i hope its not to late for this year's?
thanks

not yet late, the form comes out in october

Hello Scholars,

The Induction which was initially planned for 19th July has been postponed to 9th August, 2009.

I received this info from my source at PTDF. He said the change was neccesitated by 'some arrngements that have to be in place".

I know many pple will be as disappointed as myself when I got the info. Just hold up, August is just here.

I will try to keep u guys as up to date as possible. Cheers

please let us know thru what means we shall be contacted for the induction? please ask your contact person in PTDF. I hope to hear from you urgently. tks and God blesss

dear Kay bow, pls i am still expecting your reply to my question on the means thru which we shall be contacted for the induction. tks God bless.
thanks for keeping us updated.

one of the 2008/2009 beneficiaries told me that the invitation for induction was published on the national dailies.
I hope the same means would be employ this time around.
If any person has more info on this shd update the house.

Hello house,
How has it been with y'all? Do you know that some of us might be resuming in January due to the fact that we didnt get placement in Imperial and had to apply to another school? Just want to know if any current PTDF scholar studying in the UK might assist in telling us his experience if he falls into the category that i have just described. He's experience being when did he go for his induction? When did he leave? how has the program being? Hope there wasnt too much pressure on him?

I will really like to hear your story so that we can learn one or two things!!!

The rest of you guys, keep the inforamation coming!

Remain blessed!

Cheers!!!

kaybow, pls give us an update of what is expected of us at the induction. are u sure its august 9. pls ask further questions from ur ptdf contact and pls keep us updated. tks.

is it at the induction that our passport will be collected for visa and when are we going to get our passport and visa back. tks pls i expect ur reply urgently fro ur ptdf contact.

@ kangaro2, I think what joyshuddex said is important to be verified b4 U resign. I think it is possible because King's college refused to give me an offer and after contacting Univation, I was told a fresh appl will be made to another school. That was two weeks ago. Probably the induction was shifted because all the admissions have not been secured. I asked why they do not make multiple applications for each candidate so as to prevent situations like this and they said it is PTDF's policy : one appl at a time. Pls, current & previous scholars should share their experience so as to clarify things. if it is possible some ppl will not make the Sept trip, then we should know so that such ppl will not resign prematurely. kaybow, can U make any enquiry regarding this? Thanks.

just like kaybow said.
i also reliably got info that d induction has been postponed till the 9th august(sunday).

D invitation will be published in the dailies a week or 2 b4 the inductions.


Lets keep our eyes glued.

We shall meet there.
God bless u all :P :-*

CONGRAT! PLS, when and how can I apply. I finished from UNIBEN, Chem Engr. 2.1, currently serving. at ogun State. Nigeria

@ Chairman and Kaybow, pls kindly let us know whether it is when we get to abuja that our passport will be collected for visa application? when and how shall we get our visa and passport back?

when are we likely to travel out of the country? tks

pls kindly reply

As we are all aware that the Oversea Masters programme for the selected few start by september 2009. I will want to ask the house if anyone is aware of when the induction course will be taking place which will be organised bt PTDF for those candidates that are suppose to travel abroad this year for further studies?
Thank you.

@Onome, take your time to read people's reply, the answers to your questions are there.

@ Chairman and Kaybow and to all , pls kindly let us know whether it is when we get to abuja that our passport will be collected for visa application? when and how shall we get our visa and passport back?

when are we likely to travel out of the country? tks

pls kindly reply

@kangaroo2,

The passport will be required at Induction and the processing of visa will be started then.

And as par applications, I believe you can try applying to any course of your choice although the downside is that most schools have been or are about saturated with applications at the moment, moreover the really competitive schools might have filled all available slots.

I recall some guys (earlier in the thread) advising that Scholars should apply for alternative admissions, If you have done that then you can take it to PTDF. Otherwise you can try placing an application for a course amongst the approved list and then hope the school accepts you, so that you can it present as an alternative.

I might have an update next time I get in touch with my contact.

Cheers.

@ kaybow,, tks for ur message. pls keep us posted.

good day good people

i wish to thank u all for ur efforts at keeping us informed on latest news frm PTDF.
bravo to u all.how do we confirm the real date for the induction thats august 9th including venue?
its very key for those who are currently working to arrange for their study leave or resignation.

God bless u all

NED

Hi guys,
Congrats on your moving to the next level.i see you are all concentrating on your induction program so you might not have time for my request.
but,pls,for those of us who want to apply this year,how do we get the forms and materials to study with?

@ kaybow, after the collection of our passport for processing, whan are qe going to have our passport and visa back. pls can we also know when we shall leave the country for our respective schools.

kaybow, pls kindly text me ur number to 08077921707.

Dear Scholars,
I must say congratulation to all that have made it thus far. I could not believe things like this still work in Nigeria untill I saw my name, last year, as one of the beneficiaries. I know the same is happening to you all too. Some of u must have been finding it difficult to sleep long this days since you dream more of UK and still wake up in Nigeria, either without light or generator running,laffs.

I can see people are really concerned about their admission now. Its normal as we were too last year. Just take time to sort yourself out, apply on your own if possible, prior to the induction. If you cant, then be sure PTDF will definitely give you a worthwhile course.

I applied for Oil and gas engineering last year and was short-listed for the same in the newspaper. But the admission I was given was in Mechanical Engineering at University College London, UCL- another world class University i know some of U are oblivious of. Doing Mechanical is the best for me which I later preferred to the Oil and gas I chose before. For most of you that apply for Mechanical, u are likely to come to UCL as the PTDF executive secretary was here on Tuesday at the department and the University to foster a better working relationship with the University.

Let me not deceive you, its not as easy as some of us thought it would be when we were in nigeria, but thank God we are making it with enviable progress. So your case will not be an exemption, just extra perseverance and the resloute determination to work harder than you could have done in Nigerian Uni. even if you made a first class. You might need to learn MATLAB very well. But dont be too concerned if U cant but ensure u start learning when you get there.

As per job, I would appeal to you all that you dont resign your job if you have not done so as PTDF is very silent on that matter. They make you feel as if all will be well about job during the induction but less likely to do anything about it afterwards. Of course, they are very committed to the training and your allowance will never be delayed. you are always the envy of your self-sponsored colleagues(You cant understand till u get here, particularly those coming to London).

Lest I forget, buy enough Jeans when coming ooo, as they are a bit expensive here especially in September when you will just arrive since some of you will still be converting the cost in pounds to Naira (i did and it was frustrating but used to it now so I can buy Jeans, laffs). You might not want to buy to much clothing as Naija weather might not give you good choices to make but here u will find varieties.

I know some will be wondering about Naija foods, for those coming to London and probably Aberdeen , enough Naija foods so dont bother carrying Luggage. U can get garri, elubo, pando, Ugwu etc at least b4 u start getting use to their dishes. Pls dont say I like food ooo

Just thank God for the opportunity, its a rare one and I pray you carefully utilise it.

Warmest regards,
beewhyfocus
PTDF Scholar 2008/09
UCL

@ beewhyfocus.

thank you beewhyfocus. thanks for this full information. i appreciate you and i will like to know you soon. please can i know when our passport will be collected for visa processing and when our visa and passport will be given back to us after the induction and when are we likely to travel out of the country. (i.e . the is it in august or in September). thank you so much. please keep us posted on other things necessary to take note of. thanks.

kangaro2

@ Kangaro 2
U are supposed to take your passport along for the induction program in Abuja. It will be collected there and you will be taken to the Visa office in Abuja by PTDF. Thats going to be express and so no cause for alarm. However, they will contact you when the visa is ready and that will likely be the time u will be travelling.

You guyz are going to travel from Abuja via Lagos. You will get your Visa then and the first allowee to take you to UK. Its going to be fine, trust God!

Regards,
beewhyfocus

@ beewhyfocus. thank you beewhyfocus for your prompt reply and for keeping me posted. I will keep in touch and ask you further questions later. God bless you real good. i appreciate you. i look forward to meeting you. have a nice weekend

kangaro2

@ Kangaro
Which school are u posted to and for which course? And are u working currently, if u are u might want to give it more thought before resigning. Just my advice any way!

@ beewhyfocus. thanks beewhyfocus. i appreciate your response and briefing.

i have to resign cos you must have spent 3 yrs or more in my place of work before u can be entitled to study leave in my place of work. that is the rule in my place of work. my course is petroleum law and policy. i am a lawyer and i would always get a good job and firm to work in and to build my career when a back in the name of Jesus.

please when are we likely to travel out of the country? i mean, how many days after the induction? is it first week in September or end of august?

thanks good brother. i await your response.

kangaro2

Just got a call from PTDF to be in Abuja on monday with my intl passport and stuff........anybody get the same call?

Wow, sorry to ask but could U pls give more details about the call? was the purpose of the journey mentioned? I've not heard PTDF calling people except 4 induction. If it is not induction, then what is it?

@ Kangaro 2

Yea, I can understand with you. The same happened to me too where I worked before coming over here. You needed to have worked for two years before u resign but I only worked for six months then so I could not and I had to resign. All the same I trust God for you and those of us here too. The best awaits us all.

As per the travels, it depends on your school's resumption date. For me, We left in September, the usual resumption date for UK schools. For instance, my school resumed on the 22nd of September while we travelled on the 20th of September, 2008. However, our induction was in August then. So you are not leaving immediately after the induction except your school resumes then. They will get in touch with you afterwards when the visa is ready and when your flight arrangement has been concluded.

You are in for enjoyment at the induction programe. Ours was at the Top rank hotel, a nice hotel for its levels in Abuja. Its all lectures and infos on how things work in the Uk and some other stuffs. You might want to arrive there on time so you dont miss any sessions as they are really helpful. Those that go late might be booked in another hotel which could be far from Top rank if its still the same venue.

Once again, accept my congratulations

Dear Scholars,
I am a 2008/2009 beneficiary of the scheme. No cause for alarm as per the induction date as it will be publish in National dailies, THISDAY and PUNCH or so. Just keep calm. Anyone that sees it should inform others through this forum or . I think ours was published about 1 week to the program if Im right.

Just ensure you are ready for it. There is no point resigning for the induction, just take a week leave from your respective offices as u are not going to travel immediately after induction. Most schools resumes around the last week of September while some is the 2nd week of October. You can confirm your resumption date from your schools website now.

You should also note that, the travel for us was just 3days before our resumption, so if your school is resuming say, on 28th September, you are likely to be travelling on 25th as its then the accomodation in the school will be available.

Take care guyz, You will succeed!
Regards,
beewhyfocus
PTDF Scholar 2008/09
UCL Mechanical Engineering

@Beewhyfocus thanks a lot 4 ur eyeopening contributn. U r a concerned scholar indeed.
Pls what can u say of some of us that hav not been offered a place yet? Hope it won't affect our travelling at sept? Or you think they will give us a place at any schl by all means? Are they going 2 invite us 4 induction too??

Pls reply because am bothered and l dont want 2 miss this golden opportunity.

Thank you for ur orientation b4 d induction.

beewhyfocus, i really enjoy your contributions!
Keep it up man!

@ Topson 44
Thanks for your compliment too. If you can still get admission for yourself you might try to just to get your choice school. However, if you can not, I am reassuring you that there is no cause for alarm as PTDF will try as much as possible to fix you up by all means. And if in the worst case scenario, which is not likely to happen, they were unable to do so, there is every possibility for deferring the scholarship till next year. But this did not happen in our time even though people that Got admission still had the opportunity of deferring by a year. So be calm, PTDF system is different from normal Nigerian corrupt system of dis-enfranchising people. You have got it and no one can stop you again. Never worry, everybody will be invited for the induction as it is an open invite.

I would advise you to keep calling Sam Mc kinstrie of Univation, they are the one in charge of admissions and not PTDF directly . You might want to check www.ptdf.com for Univation's contacts and www.ptdf.gov.ng for PTDF infos.

Hope this helps!

@ de-wise
Thanks for you compliment too, how much can I do to contribute my little quota. I have been in your shoes before and definitely know how you will be feeling now. Its normal, so I decided to make my little contribution back too.

Please if you know anyone coming for Mechanical engineering in University College London (UCL), please dont hesitate to link such fellows with me. I believe I could give some info that could help them with ease. Like Newton said; "If I have seen any farther its because I'm standing on the shoulders of giants (people that had gone ahead of me)".



I wish you all guyz well, U will all succeed!

Regards
beewhyfocus

@uche7869
uche please give us the details of what the ptdf call was all about. i have not received any call from ptdf. please brief the house.