A total of 4, 989 candidates were shortlisted to participate in the Aptitude Test for the 2017/18 PTDF Overseas and Local (MSc) Scholarship award.The E-Test which was conducted in the six geo-political zones had 1, 687 candidates shortlisted in the North Central zone which held in Abuja. Lagos centre for the South West, had 1343 shortlisted candidates, 986 for the South South zone conducted in Port Harcourt, 557 for the North West conducted in Kaduna, 235 for the North East conducted in Bauchi, and 141 for South East zone conducted in Enugu.

For over 44 days since the CBT examination was written the candidates are yet to hear from PTDF management about the result of the exam. The scholarship hopefuls have continued to wait for PTDF to release the list of the successful candidates to no avail. It is worrying to know that most of the prospective Overseas scholars will resume early September, 2017 as stated in their various universities academic calender. This will leave them with only 2 to 3 weeks to secure CAS, VISA and make other travelling arrangements from now, plus the fact that some of the awardees who are already working will have to give their employers 3 weeks notice in their resignation letter. PTDF is aware of the rigours of the aforementioned preparation yet they feign ignorant. Some prospective overseas scholars have forfeited their university admissions already as the timeline given to them to accept the unconditional admission offers has elapsed while others deferred theirs till January, 2018.

The scholarship hopefuls have expressed their frustration and hopelessness over the deafening silence of PTDF regarding the unprecedented and unjustified delay in publishing the list of successful candidates. The candidates equally fear that the continued delay in publishing the list of successful ones erodes the little integrity of the selection process, stating that as days go by, the names on the supposed merit list are being substituted with the ones from the back door, mainly political elites and their allies. Hence, the ululation of the hopeful scholars is to stop PTDF from further delay and substitution of names on the list.

The mouths of other hopefuls have been left ajar while wondering if the rats that drove the President away from his office have equally invaded PTDF and probably chopped the list. One of the hopefully scholars equally noted with anger, that at the time of application, the applicants were compelled to purchase E-PIN for #1000.00 each before the scholarship portal could be accessed for application, even when scholarship application and other application processes on the portals of government agencies, ministries and departments are usually free.

As a result, the scholarship hopefuls have taken to twitter, calling out PTDF to release the list without any further delay and bury their head in shame as a result of their gross ineptitude and lack of sense of responsibility.

More reactions on twitter

@op So sad that PTDF is not saying anything.

@seun, Lalaclasticla

kindly put on front page