As part of its efforts to curtail the financial burden of scholarship, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French government to sponsor 13 Nigerian students to study in France.

Signing the document Thursday in Abuja, the acting executive secretary, PTDF, Alhaji Ahmed Galadima, said the agreement involved providing concessions for the students to undertake masters and PHD programmes in France.`

“It is important to mention here that part of the agreement with the French Embassy through ‘Famous France’ is offering to provide a number of concessions to 10 MSC and three Ph.D scholars.

“The concession include exemption from payment of registration and tuition fees, free health insurance, priority access to public student residence, free visa and scholars to have status of scholars of the French government,’’ Galadima said.

He said that the fund was on strategic partnership with some other multinational universities and had signed off on one of the bilateral relationships.

He expressed strong hope that the partnership would bring about a better and more vibrant diplomatic tie between both countries in the near future.