The European Union has offered postgraduate scholarships to 142 young Nigerians in top European universities in the 2024/2025 academic session, under its flagship educational programme, Erasmus plus.
“With this number, Nigeria retains its number one spot among beneficiaries of the EU postgraduate scholarships in Africa for the sixth year, as well as a place among the top five recipient countries globally,” the EU revealed in a statement issued on Thursday.
At a pre-departure orientation organised for the scholarship awardees in Abuja on Thursday, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, underlined the significance of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree programme, now in its 20th year.
“The 142 Nigerian EMJMD awardees are among the initial batch of beneficiaries, announced by the organisers of the programme in Brussels. The number is likely to increase.
“Most of the awardees will start their Erasmus Plus journey in September 2024. The pre-departure orientation aimed to provide the recipients with hands-on tips on how to make the best of the immense opportunities inherent in the prestigious scholarship.
“The programmes that will run for 12-24 months, with each beneficiary studying in at least three different universities in as many countries within and outside the EU during the period.
“The Nigerian awardees have been admitted into some of the most in-demand cutting-edge programmes including Renewables-based Power Systems, Chemical Innovation and Regulation, Public Health in Disasters, Biorefinery, European MSc in Marine Environment 2030, Soils science, Systems for Sustainable Engineering, Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering, Sustainable Ship and Shipping – and several more,” Isopi said.
Speaking further, the Ambassador noted that on the successful completion of the programme, an EMJMD scholar will receive a master’s degree to be jointly awarded by a consortium of universities, in the framework of the EMJMD programme – a key component of Erasmus Plus.
“The EU’s support for education in Nigeria aligns with national objectives and focuses on equitable access to quality education and teacher training. In its education sector support, the EU works with the governments of Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Katsina, Enugu, and Plateau states.
“The projects aim 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,” Isopi said.