The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has sought to establish a link with the Nigerian Army to facilitate a quick security response to emergencies at its institutions in Kaduna and Port Harcourt.

PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, made the request on Friday when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, led a delegation of the Nigerian Army on a courtesy visit to the PTDF Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

Aliyu said the PTDF operates two strategic Centres of Excellence: the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Kaduna and the Centre for Skills Development and Training in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the institutions represent substantial national investments in specialised education, technical training, research and capacity development.

He said their contribution to Nigeria’s development could not be overstated, making effective security arrangements essential to their operations.

He said, “Given their strategic significance, we would appreciate establishing an appropriate security link between the Nigerian Army and these two Centres to enable prompt response and support in any emergency.

“Such an arrangement would provide a vital additional layer of protection, not only for these national assets, but for the staff, students and trainees who depend on them daily.”

He said the PTDF would welcome further engagement with the Nigeria Army team to develop a suitable framework for the collaboration.

Aliyu said the Fund occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s development architecture.

He stressed that over the years, the Fund has produced thousands of highly skilled Nigerian professionals now serving across the public and private sectors including within the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He said the fund’s partnership with the Nigerian military is already in motion. Aliyu stressed that under the PTDF In-Country Scholarship Scheme, the Fund currently sponsors scholars at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

He added that beyond the Academy, Government Day Secondary School, Army Barracks, Yola, Adamawa State, stand proudly among the beneficiary schools of PTDF STEM Programme, nurturing the next generation of Nigerian scientists and engineers within a military community.

Continuing, he stressed that “We have also taken careful note of the Nigerian Army’s request for strategic partnership and support towards the proposed Command Science and Technical College, Ankpa, Kogi State. Its focus on science, technology, engineering, ICT, and technical education aligns well with the demands of our time; a nation cannot build its technological and industrial future without first investing in the young minds who will drive it.

” In recognition of this alignment, and within the framework of PTDF’s mandate and intervention programmes, the Fund is pleased to support this initiative by establishing an ICT centre, laying a critical foundation for digital literacy and technology driven learning among the College’s students.”

Responding the COAS said the Army is at a critical moment in its history

whereby science, technology are critical aspects of its own personal skill development and to assist in solving contemporary security situations.

He stressed that currently it is tackling the challenges of terrorism and banditry that have necessitated the call for

developing critical skills in Command systems and drone technology to assist in building and domesticating the skill within the country and to reduce the number of personnel sent outside the country.

He requested the PTDF to build the critical mass skills of the army officers.

His words: “Now, it is issues of terrorism, insurgency, banditry are still plaguing the country and we are looking forward to developing critical skills in Command systems and drone technology to assist in building and domesticating that skill within the country and to reduce the number of personnel sent outside the country.”

He said the upgrading and equipping of Command secondary schools will go a long way to contribute to national development. (The Nation)