By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
European Union, EU, says its support for education in Nigeria aligns to national objectives and focuses on equitable access to quality education and teacher training aimed at strengthening the education system, increase the use of digital technology for teaching, learning and system management, and mainstream green skills and knowledge by investing EUR 45.4 million, in total during, 2021-2027 in the education projects.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi, stated this while announcing the offer of postgraduate scholarships to young Nigerians in top European universities, under its flagship educational programme, Erasmus plus programme.
Erasmus plus is the European Union’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport for 2021–2027.
It offers a range of opportunities for higher education students, staff and institutions from around the world, both for individuals and for organisations.
Announcing the scholarship at a press briefing in Abuja today, Ms. Isopi said the figure places Nigeria on the number one spot among beneficiaries of the EU postgraduate scholarships in Africa in the past five years, and among the top five globally.
According to her, the students were selected from over 15,000 applications through a very competitive selection procedure coordinated by the participating consortia of universities.
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.
She further announced that the EU Delegation to Nigeria will in October this year, host a “Study in Europe Fair” in Lagos and Kano to enable prospective Nigerian students explore the opportunities of higher education in Europe and 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.
The EU Ambassador noted that the 109 Nigerian awardees are in the initial batch of beneficiaries, as announced by the organisers of the programme in Brussels and the number is likely to increase.
