ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Italian energy company Eni have awarded postgraduate scholarships to 30 Nigerian graduates for the 2026/2027 academic session, as part of efforts to develop specialised skills and strengthen local capacity in the oil and gas industry.
The beneficiaries were selected from more than 3,000 applicants based on their academic records and performance in a computer-based test conducted as part of the selection process.
The scholarships were awarded under the NNPC-NAE Production Sharing Contract (PSC) partners’ Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme, implemented by Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE), Eni’s subsidiary in Nigeria.
Of the 30 beneficiaries, 10 will pursue postgraduate studies at universities in the United Kingdom, including Imperial College London, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Newcastle University, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Hull. The remaining 20 will study at universities in Nigeria.
Their areas of specialisation include engineering, geosciences, petroleum and environmental technology, energy economics, renewable energy and energy transition.
NNPC, Eni target oil and gas skills gap
The Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NAE, Maurizio Pinna, said the scholarship scheme was designed to promote human capital development by providing talented Nigerian graduates with opportunities to acquire advanced knowledge and skills relevant to the energy industry.
He congratulated the successful candidates and expressed confidence that the awards would help them pursue their career ambitions while contributing to Nigeria’s economic and industrial development.
Pinna described the initiative as part of the company’s continuing commitment to education, innovation and capacity building in Nigeria.
He urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity to develop expertise that would benefit the country, particularly its oil and gas industry.
The programme is intended to strengthen the pool of Nigerian professionals in specialised technical and commercial disciplines, including those required for complex deepwater exploration and production operations.
380 graduates have benefited since 2007
Established in 2007 by the NNPC-NAE PSC partners, the postgraduate scholarship scheme seeks to improve access to advanced education and help bridge skills shortages in specialised areas of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
According to the companies, 380 graduates have benefited from the programme since its inception.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to develop local expertise and equip Nigerian professionals with the technical knowledge required to support the country’s upstream petroleum industry.
As Nigeria seeks to sustain oil production, attract investment into offshore projects and expand its energy mix, developing skilled local professionals remains an important component of the industry’s long-term competitiveness.
The scholarship programme also supports the development of expertise in renewable energy and energy transition, reflecting the growing range of technical and economic disciplines required across the energy sector.
Eni’s operations and investments in Nigeria
Eni has operated in Nigeria since 1962 and currently reports equity production of approximately 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The company also holds a 10.4 per cent stake in Nigeria LNG.
Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited was incorporated in 1996 to manage Eni’s deepwater exploration and production assets in the country.
NAE began producing oil from Nigeria’s deep offshore through the Abo floating production, storage and offloading vessel in 2003, marking an important milestone in the development of the country’s deepwater petroleum industry.
The company holds interests in nine offshore blocks in Nigeria, either as operator or co-venturer. Its portfolio includes PML 102 and PML 103, where the Zabazaba-Etan fields are being developed.
Beyond its oil and gas operations, Eni, through NAE, implements sustainability initiatives in health, education, water access, infrastructure development and community empowerment.
The latest scholarship awards reinforce the company’s investment in education and professional development as Nigeria continues to pursue greater local participation, technical expertise and value creation across its energy industry.
