Open letter to the PTDF executive secretary

Sir, I am concern to make this an open letter about the disparity between the Higher National Diploma Holders (HND) and their University counterparts, concerning the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) overseas scholarship scheme. Since inception, the PTDF offers various scholarship schemes to University graduates for Post Graduate Studies. But nothing good of this nature […]

Sir, I am concern to make this an open letter about the disparity between the Higher National Diploma Holders (HND) and their University counterparts, concerning the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) overseas scholarship scheme.
Since inception, the PTDF offers various scholarship schemes to University graduates for Post Graduate Studies. But nothing good of this nature comes the way of Polytechnic students/graduates. Why? Has Polytechnic education become archaic in the scope of the PTDF?
It is common knowledge HND holders in Nigeria suffer discrimination in the labour market, as a result of qualification dichotomy in both public and private sector for donkey’s years. Due to this dichotomy, their career progression is hampered and sadly it creates a flawed psyche among employers of labour and parents that the University degrees were more illustrious than higher national diplomas.
PTDF was established to provide Nigerians with variety of dividends derived from the nation’s umbilical cord i.e. oil. So on the process of allocating the benefit, giving equal opportunity would be the only option that will ameliorate the future of ‘HND’ holders, and give them greater chance to break the jinx and allow them to compete with their University counterpart in order to advance their education internally and abroad.
Sir, based on the natural prerequisite to Post Graduate studies in Nigeria for HND holders is not more impressive, in their quest to proceed or further their studies. The privileged one has to be enrolled in foreign universities in order to escape the constraint.
PTDF is not supposed to be an agent of discrimination. If there is a major agency in providing equal opportunity to Nigerians so it should be ‘PTDF’. The PTDF belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of certificate differences. And it is illogical of the highest order to deny HND holders the opportunity to enjoy PTDF sponsorship for Post Graduate studies, regarding the enormous role they played especially in technology development.
On a final note, I urge you to seriously look into this matter, please.

Jabir Usman, [email protected]