Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, NAE, a subsidiary of Eni, has awarded postgraduate scholarships to 30 Nigerian graduates for the 2026/2027 academic session under its scholarship scheme operated on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, and NAE Production Sharing Contract, PSC, partners.
The Company disclosed in a statement on Monday that beneficiaries were selected from more than 3,000 applicants based on their academic performance and results in a recently conducted computer-based test.
Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NAE, Mr. Maurizio Pinna, said the initiative was aimed at promoting human capital development by providing young Nigerians with opportunities to acquire skills relevant to the oil and gas industry.
He congratulated the beneficiaries, noting that the scholarship would enable them to pursue their academic ambitions and achieve their career goals.
“The award highlights our company’s continuous commitment to the future of education, innovation, and capacity building in Nigeria,” Pinna said.
He urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity by acquiring valuable knowledge and skills that would contribute to national development, particularly in the energy sector.
The company said ten of the beneficiaries will undertake postgraduate studies at universities abroad, including Imperial College London, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Newcastle University, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Hull, all in the United Kingdom.
The remaining 20 beneficiaries will study at Nigerian universities in fields such as engineering, geosciences, petroleum and environmental technology, energy economics, renewable energy and energy transition.
The postgraduate scholarship scheme was established in 2007 by the NNPC-NAE PSC partners as part of their human capital development initiatives to promote knowledge acquisition and address skills gaps in specialised areas relevant to Nigeria’s deep offshore oil and gas operations.
Since its inception, the scheme has supported 380 graduates, equipping them with the knowledge and technical skills required to contribute to the country’s oil and gas industry.
Beyond education, Eni, through NAE, has implemented various sustainability initiatives in Nigeria covering healthcare, education, access to water, infrastructure development and the empowerment of local communities.
Eni has operated in Nigeria since 1962 and currently has an 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.
NAE was incorporated in 1996 to manage Eni’s deep offshore exploration and production assets in Nigeria. In 2003, the company became the first oil and gas operator in the country to produce oil from the deep offshore, through its Abo floating production, storage and offloading vessel.
The company has interests in nine offshore blocks in Nigeria, either as operator or co-venturer.
These include PML 102 and PML 103, where the Zabazaba-Etan fields are being developed.
