By Musa Ubandawaki

SOKOTO:–The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has launched a collaborative training programme with Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) and other institutions to strengthen research capacity in modern oil and gas technologies for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

Speaking at the opening of a three day capacity building workshop in Sokoto on Monday, the PTDF General Manager for Research and Innovation, Mr. Olayinka Agboola, said the initiative aims to advance sustainable petroleum operations through enhanced human resource development.

Agboola, represented by Dr. Neeka Jacob, noted that PTDF has, for over two decades, consistently executed its mandate through various academic and research based interventions across Nigerian institutions.

“The Fund has supported endowment research, grant-funded studies, and scholarly research, some of which have already secured patents while others remain under processing” says Agboola.

“Several innovative findings emerging from these efforts require deeper collaboration with UDUS to enable commercial scale deployment for job creation and economic development”.

He emphasized that equipping scholars with modern tools, discipline, and technical knowledge is essential to unlocking the full potential of the oil and gas sector in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Agboola added that PTDF’s growing portfolio of patented technologies sets the stage for joint research and commercialization efforts in emerging fields such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy security.

Also speaking, the PTDF Head of Legal and Secretariat Services, Mr. Nuruhuda Darma, said the partnership would deepen the linkages between academia, industry, and government, fostering an environment where research is effectively translated into practical solutions.

Darma cited global statistics showing that over 65 per cent of petroleum laboratories rely on GCMS technology for quality control and environmental assessment, noting that Nigeria’s analytical services market is expanding by up to eight per cent annually.

In his remarks, Prof. Aminu Bayawa, the PTDF Professorial Chair in Petroleum Chemistry at UDUS, said the workshop focused on Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) to promote best practices and enhance community-oriented research.

He said the initiative aims to help scholars adopt safer, more productive tools while reducing health and environmental risks associated with large- and small scale research activities.

Bayawa disclosed that while 260 applications were received, only 30 scholars from 22 institutions qualified for the training, expressing optimism that the programme would strengthen participants’ capacity to use modern analytical tools.

He noted that GCMS remains a critical technique for identifying and quantifying hydrocarbons and chemical additives, combining the precision of gas chromatography with the molecular detection power of mass spectrometry.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba, the Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Abdullahi Tsafe, commended PTDF for its commitment to capacity building and assured the university’s continued support for the partnership.

Garba urged the PTDF Professorial Chair to ensure the establishment of legacy projects that would sustain high impact research and expand institutional capabilities to meet global standards.

The workshop, themed “Mastering GCMS for the Oil Industry: From Theory to Practical Applications,” drew participants across the country.