By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has paid glowing tribute to eminent geoscientist, Professor Omar Rahaman, describing his contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector and academic development as foundational and enduring.

Speaking at the Season of Rahaman Distinguished Lecture Series in Abuja to mark the professor’s 80th birthday, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, represented by Dr. Steve Agboyinu, said the celebration was not merely about age, but about impact, legacy, and intellectual excellence.

Aliyu noted that Rahaman’s decades of service have shaped minds, strengthened institutions, and advanced Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through sustained scholarship and leadership.

According to him, Rahaman played a pivotal role in the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme, one of the Fund’s flagship programmes, which has produced highly skilled professionals serving both the petroleum industry and the broader energy sector.

“Professor Rahaman was instrumental in the Overseas Scholarship Scheme and served for over nine years as coordinator of the aptitude tests used in selecting beneficiaries for top universities, particularly in the United Kingdom,” he said.

He added that Rahaman’s leadership helped institutionalise a selection process that is credible, transparent, and merit-driven, while also contributing as a long-standing member of selection panels for PTDF’s in-country postgraduate scholarship scheme.

Aliyu further emphasised Rahaman’s role in strengthening local capacity through infrastructure and programme development in Nigerian universities.

He cited the establishment of five specialised professional master’s programmes at Obafemi Awolowo University, supported by PTDF and industry partners, covering petroleum geoscience, geophysics, geochemistry, mineral exploration, and environmental geosciences.

“This initiative reflects not only vision but a practical commitment to building local capacity and sustainable institutional frameworks,” he said.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Kehinde Ladipo, described Rahaman as a selfless mentor whose life has been dedicated to the advancement of others and the geoscience profession.

He noted that the Season of Rahaman series, now in its fifth edition, began as a modest initiative by protégés and has grown into an international platform celebrating one of Africa’s most respected geoscientists.

Ladipo also highlighted Rahaman’s influence in professional bodies such as the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society and the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, noting his advocacy for institutional support and professional development.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Felix Toteu emphasised Rahaman’s continental impact, particularly in geological mapping and research on Africa’s Precambrian formations.

Toteu described him as one of the pioneers of geological mapping in Africa, recalling his role in shaping early continental mapping efforts dating back to the 1980s.

He also called for greater attention to Nigeria’s geological heritage, urging stakeholders to promote more sites for global recognition.

The event drew participants from academia, industry, and government, both physically and virtually, as tributes continued to pour in for Rahaman’s enduring legacy of excellence, integrity, and service.