After having been on "undecided" mode since last year and missed about three weeks of my Ph.D start date, I am finally travelling to start this new academic journey. Though I have been indirectly congratulated by my sources of potentially being amongst the names of APL recipients, I believe on taking the risk of going to start the PhD (at least it's something in my hands already and can be lost any moment from now if I don't travel). I don't think there is anyone taking a bigger risk than I will (paying for accomodation, etc.). So I will advise starting whatever you want to start or pay whatever you have to pay if that condition does not warrant second chance. If I am able to abandon the PhD and return back when I am confirmed as a recipient of the APL, good. If it's not administratively possible, then I wish every one who reached the interview stage of this tiring recruitment all the best in their future endeavors. It's been great reading everyone's contributions. Farewell.

To be honest, I don't know anything about GT/EH dichotomy in respect of time of notifications or receipt of APL. I'm GT applicant, so I've never bothered to find out about the EH saga I read on Nairaland.

fidebbs:


EH inclusive? Before u assume the question is irrelevant and come for my head, chill abeg. Let BasDost answer the question. Oya!

Hi guys. First is to say, I swear to God I am not one to peddle lies & rumors, even on a faceless platform. So I just confirmed from a second authentic source of mine (confirmed from one during the weekend), that everyone should be on the lookout for a mail between today and the end of this week. Confirmed & signed list is 100% ready (I don't know if letters have been printed or are going to be posted though, didn't want to bother my sources with any further request for more info as they gave me this info on their freewill). All I can say, is Glory be to God and may the notifications that will come be favourable to everyone, whether one gets the APL or not.

Mrs Oyeyemi Ladipo...that name rings a bell. Anyone who has connection (I mean real acquaintance) with her should be in a great position to be in the know of a lot of things.

You have echoed my thought and that of many sensible people around me I've had a discourse with about this recruitment. It is really sad and unfortunate how we get treated here. Communication is vital. It seems in this part of the country the government can get away with anything without accounting to the people the motives behind their actions. It is the same way the presidency keeps mute on certain important issues bothering the people. Zero communication to me is utterly disrespectful to the concerned parties.

This below is a screenshot of a chat I was having with a British friend of mine about a month ago. When I said in my last post I am almost moving on from this phase, I meant it. It's so sad. We all invested so much into this recruitment and deserve at least an unambiguous communique from people at the Towers. May the Almighty pave better ways for us. By mid or end of this month, I should just leave to start my PhD (officially starting on the 16th). That will be the final nail on the coffin of my NNPC dreams.

helpedboy:
But to be honest, dear comrades in this movement, it is a really sad thing that this process has been so shrouded in gross uncertainty, seeming directionlessness, and baffling secrecy. It makes no sense to me at all as I do not understand what justification can be given to such current state of things. As eager as I am of getting the highly anticipated APL/OoE, I am MORE bothered by the manner in which the process has been handled post the July interviews. In my opinion, it is very shoddy and lacking in professionalism and excellence. And I believe it mirrors a very striking strand in the psyche and conduct of our government's leaders: DISRESPECT and DISREGARD. Our leaders generally have no regard and basic respect for us whom they lead. And it is the very silent and salient SINGULAR factor behind EVERY anomaly that exists in our country.

As with many of us, I believe I wouldn't have any problem if, by the time we were interviewed - or even at the period of vacancy announcements - it was stated that by so and so date, successful applicants will be called...orientation will begin...resumption proper would commence...etcetera. Even if it was ultimately pinned for March 2010. We would have not been in the least perturbed. Na to just dey do other things dey wait for the relevant day(s). You don't just leave things open-ended, vague and ambiguous. It smacks of disorderliness and lack of planning or sense of understanding in one's endeavours. Even in relationship seminars, they tell young people to define every relationship; that whatever is not defined can never be fine, dash dash dash. My point is simply that, in a bid to fight corruption and operate with integrity (as I believe the whole NNPC TAPE mantra is directed towards ) if there aren't certain publicly declared specific timelines, project operational modalities, and consistent update on happenings/unforeseen delays, you only sink deeper into that which you have resolved to combat, albeit unintentionally, because, with these loopholes, you give ample room for saboteurs and contradictory deeds and misdeeds from unscrupulous elements within and without the system.

I implore us to learn, therefore, as we advance in life and occupy great places by God's grace, to make things straight and plain in the open and give no room for conjectures and aspersions in the course of carrying out our responsibilities.

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Romans 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Happy Sunday and New week, Fellas!

Shalom.

Ran across this picture of current GMD exchanging pleasantries with immediate past GMD at the much publicised former's children's wedding yesterday. I still recall when Baru handed over to Mele, when interviews were still ongoing, and there was so much hope it would be a smooth continuity into the recruitment project et al. One of my legs has already moved on from the recruitment now, but I am still praying we get to have closure sooner than we expect, hopefully next week or the subsequent one as has been insinuated. By mid-January, I would have no option than to move on completely.

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Hardly is there anything I can remember of in recent years that I've invested lots of psychological attention into, like this NNPC recruitment. Mehn, I wish we can get closure soon so that my heart can finally be at rest and all these late night dreams I keep having can be laid to rest. I'm tired of frequently dreaming about picking my APL, like I did once more last night. Got a scholarship offer to the UK this month and have until month's end to accept it & begin processing my visa. If nothing shows up & I finally submit a visa application, that could be goodbye to my dream & desire of working at NNPC. Something which I've been holding dear in my heart since the interview ended.

Food for Thought.

I swear to God I dreamt about the APL this weekend. I don't know whether it's because I have put it so much in my mind or it is a revelation; because all this while I'd not had any dream to do with this recruitment. It was very detailed. I can recall flipping through stocks of APLs kept on a table, trying to see if I can identify the one with my name. Photos were even attached to the APLs. I can recall going through a number of names...most of whom I have forgotten after I woke up. It's either I skipped my name or it wasn't there, because I got frustrated after going through all the APLs without seeing my name. I was about going through the APLs again when I woke up. But the ones that stuck to my memory are (xx)Femi and Bello Muhammad. The Femi has a preceding name which is Oluwa I think. Not sure.

Sorry to digress, I had no intention of sharing this when but this rumours flying of APL getting discharged prompted me to. May we be amongst the successful hopefuls.

Is everything alright? I just received my second 20k from the NNPC as transport reimbursement. I was interviewed on the 10th.

krisjnr007:
Truth or lie I don't know but the rumor making rounds in the towers is that the new GMD NNPC groups, want to jettison this recruitment exercise on the grounds that it was marred with irregularities. On my own, I can not substantiate any compromise on the excercise, but I reliably heard that after we(NiG masses) finished our own interview section, a few person were hand picked for a special interview.

If you can recall Mekanti Baru was running things fast fast ,but since Mele Kyari assumed office, things has slowed down. Why?

I can corroborate the second point of your first paragraph based on two personal experiences. First I happened to run across a person of high repute (well connected in the current government) who told me they were informed by a family member of mine that I had participated in the interviews conducted by the NNPC. When I acknowledged my participation, the person asked me if it were the first or second interview. I was dumbfounded and just said the interview conducted by the corporation. Later on, my insinuations based on that question pointed out to me that there “might” have been another interview session apart from the official one most of us particpated in.

Second a friend of mine gisted me about how one of his friends, whose dad is a GGM at the corporation, had not been shortlisted for the interview but ended up getting an interview call-up (not sure if it was the one we partcipated in or not) after his dad’s intervention.

Despite the irregularities that there “might” have been in the recruitment process, I really have so much good belief in it and it has been so from the onset. I strongly believe that merit will be hugely rewarded. The perpetual silence from the corporation and total lack of credible (100% reliable) information from so many individual sources of ours, I’m sure, is what is eating us all. I just hope we get closure anytime soon, prayerfully sooner than we expect, so that we can all move on with our lives be it a sucessful or unsuccesful outcome.

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Finally received payment.
10th July
20K
FBN

Hopefully we get closure on the issue of payments soon and full focus turns to contacting successful applicants. It shouldn’t stretch pass this month by all indications.

There is an observation I haven’t seen anyone made mention of, at least if not peculiar to all interview dates, then to those who were interviewed on the 10th.

After signing out on the attendance sheet and while filling the account details/location sheet, a woman seated near the table the booklet was placed on was asking questions about each person’s location and making verifications with respect to that on her laptop. I’m pretty sure she asked for my name/candidate no, typed it into her system and then confirm my location.

Hello @Justwise & co. Please assist me clarify this.

It is stated on my CAS that for English Evidence, "HEI sponsor has made assessment. No evidence required."

Now I'm about submitting an online application & I'm confused about what answer to give regarding this: "Please indicate how you meet the minimum English Language requirement relevant to your course". I used my TOEFL test while applying to get admission. Must I state this & submit it even though my CAS says no evidence is required.

DXXMI:

Thanks dude. I didnt make it

I wish you strength man. Don't give up. Try again.

nuel1648:


follow this link
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B85SMiu4r-lacERCZGh4VXE2ak0

It is all right guys. There is no need to drop your e-mails. Just download it from the link pasted above by this brother

DXXMI:
Please i need, screen shot of msc kaduna list. Please oooooooooooooooooooooo

Kaduna.

98. AbdulRahman Usman Hassan
99. Ibraheem Saheed
100. Fabian Stephen
101. Harry Isaac Haruna
102. Maryam Yakubu Surajudeen

I have the list saved in PDF format but I am unable to attach it here. How can it be done so that others who aren't able to access the site can check their names on the PDF file?

BasDost:
I don't know whether it was so for the junior staffs, but I can assure everyone that a good number of the senior staffs at the PTDF towers were in office yesterday despite the public holiday. I will reiterate that I don't know any reasons behind the "unprofessional" handling of this year's announcement of award winners, but everything from my short conversation with one of the senior staffs shows that the lists will be released, or perhaps the successful scholars will be contacted any moment from today, running through the week.

PS: Everyone will know their fates before the week runs out according to the most authentic of sources. No insults please, I am only making known to one and all the new information in my hands.

I have been unable to check the list as the website isn't connecting, but from the first screenshot my boss Dremanuel posted, I have been able to see my name as one of those whom Allah has blessed to make the list. Congratulations to one and all.
The journey is just about to beginnnnnnnnn.

DreManuel:


We've heard that bolded before.

The reality now is that very few OSS scholars will be able to proceed for studies this year due to the time lag - or if you like the African Time- and impropriety on the side of the PTDF. PTDF has just shown again that things organized by Nigerians, Africans and Blacks generally - with the exception of few - lack organization! Tell me one Black nation that is working normally. I don't know if it's a spiritual, psychological or cultural problem or all of the above. God save the Black race.

To you first point, yes we have sir. I had earlier been told, like I posted some days back, that the list of award winners would be published before Sallah break. And sadly- although giving some glimpses of hope, it turned out that only LSS scholars were contacted. To be sincere, the biggest failure of the PTDF this year has been the huge communication gap between the agency and we applicants. We all deserve to know beyond following sources or mere speculations. But what can we do? Even the present FG which I'm a big supporter of has shamefully exhibited similar traits in relation to its citizens on different national issues.

I understand your anger brother, and I share same. I am only forcing myself to believe that if selected there is a chance I will make it to the UK for the September term, but realistically I know it will be very very much unlikely. And sadly, all the programmes I have admissions in have no January start date. To compound to that, I had to let go one BEA-like scholarship offer I received, just so I could wait to hear from the more favorable PTDF scholarship.

Ameen to your last point. It is sad. I just hope this delay will by the Grace of Almighty be a bliss in disguise for us, either we will eventually get the scholarship or not. Finally, the fact that some information we put here do not always turn out to be true despite coming from authentic sources, it won’t stop me from passing whatever little information I have in my grasps so that we can at least keep our hopes alive, no matter how little they might be. Thank you sir.

I don't know whether it was so for the junior staffs, but I can assure everyone that a good number of the senior staffs at the PTDF towers were in office yesterday despite the public holiday. I will reiterate that I don't know any reasons behind the "unprofessional" handling of this year's announcement of award winners, but everything from my short conversation with one of the senior staffs shows that the lists will be released, or perhaps the successful scholars will be contacted any moment from today, running through the week.

PS: Everyone will know their fates before the week runs out according to the most authentic of sources. No insults please, I am only making known to one and all the new information in my hands.

DMainMan:
It is really not easy to be a OSS Scholar. The list is ready but they still have not contacted the successfuls. Is there a reason behind this?

Let us wait till tomorrow since people here are saying the list will be published September 1st.

The list has been ready from a very long time ago. I have confirmed that several times directly from one of the high ranking officers in the management of the PTDF; the reason for withholding the list and delaying its publication/contacting successful scholars is what I have been unable to figure out. I hope this thing gets released as soon as possible so that one can finally have a peace of mind, free of all this long waits and high BP.

Despite only recently joining this forum to enable me comment on this thread, I must confess that visiting this thread from the beginning of the year as a guest has provided me with hope and guidance with respect to this year's scholarship. The comments from the time shortlisting began till now, even though some were mere rumors, have helped me to make adequate preparations and projections. I hope the announcement of the list will mark a turning point in the lives of every one of us, both those who will receive the award and those who haven't been destined to. We are all winners in and of ourselves being able to reach this far.

The future of this great and diverse country lies in our ability to do what is right at the right time. I hope that we all will learn to stand up for the truth, justice, and integrity. I hope we all will learn to opine on issues and give our meaningful thoughts on issues of national importance, without necessarily using derogatory terms or disrespectful comments against any group, tribe, or religion. Our strength lies in our recognising our differences and embracing ways to ensure that we have peaceful co-existence with one another across these differential lines.

I would like to end this by thanking each and every person who has in one way or the other contributed to this thread, most especially DMainMan and our Sir from the PTDF towers. May Allah guide us and bless us with is best for each and every one of us.

I look forward to celebrating our successes from yesterday, for tomorrow, and beyond.

Based on last year's figures, I think it is £1,100/month to cover all living expenses. If you are eventually awarded, do not be quick in booking accommodation before travelling to the U.K. Wait until you reach there to find very affordable and nice private accommodations (off-campus). You will average spend between 300-600 pounds per month for accommodation + utilities, depending on which city your university is in and whether you will book a shared apartment.

DeniseKendricks:
how much are scholars given for accommodation ooooooo, please anybody help.... I dont plan on looking for a church to start sleeping in like my nysc days

Well this sounds encouraging. Have you visited the towers today sir, or you also heard this during your visit yesterday? If it is as you have said, then we have increased hopes of getting a feedback from this people before next week elapses.

bigarkuwa:
Well, the PTDF doesn't need a diplomatic leverage to that. Given the 3 types of visa applications, standard which takes about 30 days now, priority service takes about 5 working days for £550 and then the premium service which takes a maximum of 48hours to come out with a decision for ~£1000. The PTDF pays for visa applications and so has to pay the premium if it's the only way one can meet up.


By the way the list is being approved today and 5 candidates for each state.

Given the underlying uncertainty about the release of the list early enough to at least catch up a week or so after classes have started, can we please discuss about the possibility of enrolling for this academic year, most especially for prospective successful UK scholars whose programmes have only September entry dates for each academic year. Do the PTDF have any plans in play, diplomatic per say, to speed up the visa processing to enable successful scholars make this academic year? And do class A UK schools (the top 30 or so) grant registration period extension to international students under unavoidable situations like ours?

Despite the fact that we don't know whether we will make the list, let's please make discussions around these areas to calm nerves and make hopeful/possible arrangements. I am sure beyond any reasonable doubt (based on clear & concise answers from PTDF sources) that sponsorships will be carried out this year, with the only problem being when "EXACTLY" (like the exact dates) the lists will be published and induction will take place. There is no contradiction by the way between my post here & the one above. I was only told next week, with no precise date given. You know anything without a precise time frame & dates opens up room for uncertainty.