Eni, through its Nigerian subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE), has awarded postgraduate scholarships to 30 Nigerian graduates for the 2026/2027 academic session, strengthening efforts to build local expertise in oil and gas and other energy-related disciplines.
The beneficiaries were selected from more than 3,000 applicants following an assessment of academic performance and a computer-based test, highlighting the competition for specialised postgraduate training opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The awards were made by NAE on behalf of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the NAE Production Sharing Contract (PSC) partners, as part of a scholarship programme designed to develop technical skills required for deep offshore operations and the wider energy industry.
Maurizio Pinna, vice chairman and managing director of NAE, said the initiative was aimed at promoting human capital development by enabling talented young Nigerians to acquire skills relevant to the oil and gas industry.
He urged the recipients to make effective use of the opportunity and apply their knowledge towards national development, particularly in the energy sector.
Ten beneficiaries will undertake postgraduate studies at universities in the United Kingdom, including Imperial College London, Robert Gordon University, Newcastle University, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Hull. The remaining 20 recipients will study at Nigerian universities.
Their fields of study include engineering, geosciences, petroleum and environmental technology, energy economics, renewable energy and energy transition.
Established in 2007 by the NNPC-NAE PSC partners, the postgraduate scholarship scheme is intended to promote advanced knowledge acquisition and address skills gaps in specialised fields associated with Nigeria’s deep offshore oil and gas operations.
NAE said 380 graduates had benefited from the programme since its inception, contributing to the development of a pool of Nigerian professionals with technical knowledge relevant to the industry.
The scheme reflects the importance of specialist training in an industry where offshore exploration and production require expertise in engineering, subsurface analysis, environmental management and complex project operations.
It also covers areas such as renewable energy and energy transition, signalling a broader skills agenda as energy companies respond to changing technologies and investment priorities.
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 percent stake in Nigeria LNG.
NAE, incorporated in 1996 to manage Eni’s deep offshore exploration and production assets, was the first oil and gas company in Nigeria to produce oil from the country’s deep offshore, through the Abo floating production, storage and offloading vessel, which began operations in 2003.
The company has interests in nine offshore blocks in Nigeria as operator or co-venturer, including PML 102 and PML 103, where the Zabazaba-Etan fields are being developed.
Beyond its core energy operations, Eni said it had implemented sustainability initiatives in Nigeria covering health, education, water access, infrastructure and community empowerment.
The latest scholarship awards add to those initiatives, with the company positioning skills development as part of its contribution to Nigeria’s human capital base and the long-term needs of the energy industry.
