NNPC, Eni Award Postgraduate Scholarships to 30 Nigerian Graduates

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Eni, through its subsidiary Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, have awarded postgraduate scholarships to 30 Nigerian graduates for the 2026/2027 academic session under the NNPC-NAE Production Sharing Contract Scholarship Awards Scheme.

The beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 3,000 applicants based on their excellent academic standing and performance in a computer-based test conducted recently. The rigorous selection process reflects the growing competitiveness of the scheme, which has become one of the most sought-after scholarship programmes in Nigeria's oil and gas sector.

Ten of the awardees will undertake postgraduate studies at leading universities abroad, including Imperial College London, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Newcastle University, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. The remaining 20 beneficiaries will pursue their postgraduate degrees in Nigerian universities across disciplines including Engineering, Geosciences, Petroleum and Environmental Technology, Energy Economics, Renewable Energy, and Energy Transition.

The Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, Maurizio Pinna, said the initiative was designed to promote human capital development by offering young and talented Nigerians the opportunity to develop new skills relevant to the oil and gas industry. He congratulated the winners, stating that the scholarship would enable them to pursue their dreams and achieve their career objectives.

"The award highlights our company's continuous commitment to the future of education, innovation, and capacity building in Nigeria," Pinna said. He advised the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity to study and gain valuable skills for the benefit of the country, particularly within the energy industry.

The postgraduate scholarship scheme was instituted by the NNPC-NAE PSC partners in 2007 as part of the company's human capital development initiatives. Its objectives are to promote knowledge acquisition and bridge the skills gap in specialised fields relevant to deep offshore oil and gas operations in Nigeria. To date, 380 graduates have benefited from the postgraduate scholarship schemes instituted by the company to contribute to the training of local professionals and provide the knowledge and skills required within the oil and gas industry.

The scheme's sustained investment in Nigerian graduates over nearly two decades underscores the commitment of NNPC and Eni to developing local capacity in a sector that remains the backbone of Nigeria's economy. By equipping young Nigerians with advanced degrees in critical disciplines, the programme is helping to build a pipeline of skilled professionals who can drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and contribute to the country's energy transition agenda.

Beyond the scholarship scheme, Eni, through Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, has implemented other sustainability initiatives in Nigeria in areas of health, education, access to water, and infrastructure provisions, as well as specific initiatives for stakeholder empowerment in local communities. Eni has been present in Nigeria since 1962 and currently has an equity production of approximately 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, holding a 10.4 per cent stake in Nigeria LNG.

Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited was incorporated in 1996 to manage the company's deep offshore exploration and production assets. NAE has the distinction of being the first oil and gas company in Nigeria to produce oil from the country's deep offshore with its Abo FPSO since 2003. The company has interests in nine offshore blocks in Nigeria, either as Operator or Co-Venturer, including PML 102 and 103, where the Zabazaba-Etan fields are currently being developed.

For the 30 beneficiaries, the scholarship represents far more than financial support; it is a transformative opportunity to acquire world-class education, develop specialised skills, and position themselves at the forefront of Nigeria's energy sector. As the country continues its march toward energy transition and economic diversification, the knowledge and expertise these scholars will acquire will be critical in shaping the future of an industry that remains central to national development. The NNPC-NAE scholarship scheme stands as a model of how public-private partnerships can invest in human capital, create opportunities for young Nigerians, and build the skilled workforce needed to sustain the oil and gas industry for generations to come.