The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, hosted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the two institutions in human capital development, national asset protection and economic growth.
Professor Aliyu reaffirmed PTDF’s commitment to supporting the training and capacity development of Nigerian Army personnel in line with the Fund’s mandate. He noted that PTDF had produced thousands of highly skilled professionals serving across the public and private sectors, including the Armed Forces.
The Executive Secretary also sought enhanced security cooperation for PTDF’s 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.
He proposed the establishment of a security framework linking the Nigerian Army with both institutions to ensure swift emergency response and provide additional protection for staff, students, researchers, trainees and critical educational infrastructure.
In his remarks, Lieutenant General Shaibu commended PTDF for its longstanding support for the training and development of Army personnel. He called for deeper collaboration in emerging technologies, particularly unmanned aerial systems, surveillance technologies and other security-related fields.
The Chief of Army Staff stated that evolving security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality, required sustained investment in advanced technologies and the development of highly skilled professionals capable of addressing contemporary threats.
He also commended PTDF for providing ICT infrastructure to Command Secondary Schools, describing the initiative as a significant boost to digital literacy and technology-driven learning among young Nigerians.
