The European Union (EU), on Monday, announced the offer of postgraduate scholarships to 109 young Nigerians in top European universities, under its flagship educational programme, Erasmus+.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi, who announced the scholarship at a press conference in Abuja, explained additional 26 scholars in in the final stage of being shortlisted, bringing the total number to 135.
This is even the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS announced another EUR 45 million grant to support primary school education in Northeast Nigeria, following the insecurity that had plagued the zone.
Ms. Isospi said, this year’s figure places Nigeria on the number one spot among beneficiaries of the EU postgraduate scholarships in Africa, and among the top five globally.
She noted that in recent years, the EU has been ramping up support to the academia through the EU’s key funding programmes: Erasmus+ in the higher education sector, and Horizon Europe for research and innovation.
Amb. Isopi also disclosed that the EU Delegation to Nigeria will host a study in Europe fair, in Nigeria’s two biggest cities of Lagos, October 28, and Kano October 26, to enable prospective Nigerian students to explore the opportunities of higher education in Europe.
Read Also: Ondo govt warns residents on risk of diphtheria
The events, she added will also serve as a platform to match-make Nigerian higher education institutions with potential EU partners, in collaboration with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States in the country.
She said the Study Fairs, which will be open to the public, will also provide opportunities for exchange of experiences and information, and for networking for Nigerian students, academics, parents and professionals who are actively interested in studying in Europe.
She said, “the 109 Nigerian EMJMD awardees are in the initial batch of beneficiaries, as announced by the organisers of the programme in Brussels. The number is likely to increase. Most of awardees will start their Erasmus plus journey in September 2023. Ahead of that, the EU Delegation will host a pre-departure orientation for the awardees on Wednesday, July 19 2023. The postgraduate programmes will run for 12-24 months, and will see each beneficiary studying in universities in at least three different universities in as many countries during the duration of the programme. Each scholarship recipient will, on successful completion of the programme, receive a master degree to be jointly awarded by a consortium of universities, in the framework of the EMJMD programme – a key component of Erasmus+”.
Amb. Isopi said the students were selected from over 15,000 applications through a very competitive selection procedure coordinated by the participating consortia of universities.
While noting that the applications are open to candidates from all parts of the world, she explained that the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) programmes are high-level integrated study programmes, delivered by an international partnership of higher education institutions.
“The EU’s support for education in Nigeria aligns to national objectives and focuses on equitable access to quality education and teacher training,” she concluded.
