Tinubu to Commission Postgraduate Petroleum College in Kaduna
Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba daily trust
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to commission the newly established College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK) following the grant of a provisional license for its operation as a private postgraduate university.
The announcement was made by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, when he received the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ahmad Galadima Aminu, at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, on Monday.
Governor Sani expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting the vision behind the college, which is expected to play a vital role in transforming Nigeria’s petroleum and energy sector through advanced research and manpower development.
“We cannot make progress in a fast-changing and complex society if we fail to develop local capacity,” the governor stated. “This college, if well supported, has the potential to develop the kind of local manpower that will change the face of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.”
He pledged Kaduna State government’s full backing to ensure the successful takeoff and operation of the institution. “I urge the PTDF to approach us for any assistance required to ensure the smooth running of this important institution,” he added.
In his remarks, PTDF Executive Secretary briefed the governor on the college’s operational readiness and outlined its academic vision. He revealed that CPESK will begin academic activities by admitting its first cohort of PhD students in September 2025.
“A total of 3,702 applications were received for our Split-Site PhD Programme. Screening and interviews are ongoing, and successful candidates will soon be admitted into five faculties,” Galadima said.
He explained that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has fully licensed the institution to offer 19 academic programmes across six departments and three faculties:
Faculty of Computing and Telecommunications Technology
Faculty of Earth and Applied Sciences
Faculty of Energy Law and Management Sciences
Galadima also highlighted that PTDF has signed strategic partnerships with three UK universities—University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, and University of Portsmouth. These partnerships will facilitate a unique split-site postgraduate programme, where students will primarily study at CPESK in Kaduna and undertake brief academic stays in the UK.
“Through this model, we aim to combine global academic standards with local relevance, ensuring our graduates are equipped to lead in Nigeria’s energy industry,” he noted.
The PTDF began establishing CPESK in 2009 as part of its strategic efforts to build senior technical, managerial, and executive capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector