UK Govt awards scholarships to 49 Nigerians

By FUNMILOLA GBOTEKU

The UK Government on Friday said it had awarded scholarships to 49 Nigerians to study in London through its Chevening scholarship programme.

Opeyemi Ojo, Chevening Programme Officer in Nigeria, made this known during the pre-departure event held for 2020/2021 session Chevening Scholars at King Fisher Club, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chevening is a UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations.

The scholarships support study at UK universities, mostly one year taught master’s degree for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers.

Ojo said that Chevening was a fully funded scholarship programme where scholars were sent to the UK to get world class education with the intention of going back to their countries to make impacts.

“We had over 6,000 Nigerian applications and we selected 49 scholars, based on their leadership, networking policies and intention to study in the UK, among others.

“The scholars will be studying courses ranging from health to sustainable energy and media for development in different universities in London,” she said.

Ojo noted that out of the 49 scholars, there were 23 females and 26 males, including three physically challenged.

In his remark, Peter Thomas, the Deputy Head of Mission, British Deputy High Commission, said: “We are delighted to be sending such great Nigerian ambassadors to the UK to study this year.

Thomas said that the application for the Chevening Scholarship programme was very competitive, adding that the 49 scholars were chosen out of over 6,000 Nigerians who applied.

“I am sure all of you will have a fantastic experience both from the education perspective and also the country as well.

“I also believe that the UK-Nigeria partnership in the education field is getting stronger year on year,” Thomas said.

Faith Agboola, one of the selected scholars, said that she felt privileged to be one of the selected few going to the UK to study.

“It is a great opportunity to be picked for a fully funded scholarship, I will like to commend the UK government for this wonderful opportunity and I promise to make the best use of it,” Agboola said.

Another scholar, Dr Victor Ezenwajiaku, said that the scholarship would be another opportunity to gain more experience in his field.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity and I intend to use it judiciously,” he said. (NAN)