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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
European Union (EU) has awarded over 200 scholarships to young Nigerians in top European universities.
The scholarships, according to Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Samuela Isopi, were awarded under its flagship programme, Erasmus+.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Isopi said: “This is a record number for us and it represents a very important increase since last year; and a very, very important increase since three years. We have significantly increased the number from 44 in 2019 to over 200 this year.
“So, we think this is something that is extremely important, this is a study programme that we have ran from one to two years and this is a master study’s programme.
“As you can easily understand, this is something which is extremely important and this year, Nigeria is the second country in terms of number of scholarships awarded after Pakistan.”
Isopi further said from the ninth position in 2020 and the sixth position in 2021, Nigeria currently has the second highest number of beneficiaries globally.
“And, I think, what we have to do is not to congratulate ourselves, but congratulate Nigeria and to congratulate young Nigerians because the selection process is purely based on merit and it is performed at the central level, which means Nigeria was able to present very good candidates that could be selected for this important programme,” Isopi said.
The EU envoy also disclosed since 2004, over 700 Nigerians have benefitted from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme.
She, however, said the EU is willing to do more, while also saying Nigerian students are extremely good in academics. Isopi added that education remained a key area of cooperation and partnership between the EU and Nigeria, saying a potential for a country like Nigeria is much more important and bigger.
