The European Union, EU, has offered postgraduate scholarships to over 200 young Nigerians in top Universities, under its flagship educational programme, Erasmus+.
The figure represents a steep increase from the number of Nigerians that benefited from the initiative last year.
It also places Nigeria second among countries with the highest number of students selected for the prestigious programme in 2022 – coming only after Pakistan.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, announced this while addressing journalists in Abuja.
According to Isopi, “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 just 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.
“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 that Nigeria was able to present very good candidates that could be selected for this important programme,”he stated.
The EU envoy also said that since 2004, over 700 Nigerians have benefited from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme.
She however said that the EU wanted to do more, while also saying that Nigerian students are extremely good in academics.
“We know that we can do more, but still, we are very happy with what we have achieved so far and what we have managed to achieve this year,” Isopi further said.
Education
Isopi further said 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.”
She also said that due to the importance of education to the development of the country, the EU is very happy to be able to contribute to the social economic development through skills development and education in programmes in Europe.
Isopi said the gesture exemplifies regular migration opportunities for ordinary Nigerians to travel abroad based on their capacity, their merit and abilities in their respective fields.
Each scholarship awardee will, on successful completion of the programme, receive a masters degree to be jointly awarded by a consortium of universities, in the framework of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme, a key component of Erasmus+.
International partnership
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are high-level and integrated study programmes at master level, delivered by an international partnership of higher education institutions.
Isopi said “the studies 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. At least two of the countries where each student will study are EU Member States. Many of the scholarship awardees have already departed for Europe to commence their studies.”
The beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous, highly competitive process and from various academic disciplines.
Joint Masters Degree Scholarships has quadrupled in the last four years, rising from 44 awardees in 2019; 93 in 2020; 133 in 2021 to the record number of over 200 awardees in 2022.
From ninth position in 2020 and sixth in 2021, the country now has the second highest number of beneficiaries globally, leaving behind countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, India and Mexico in the top bracket of countries with most awardees globally.
Over 730 Nigerians have benefitted from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree since 2004.
Isopi said; “The Erasmus+ programme is an example of the great cooperation we have with Nigeria, and reflects the EU’s commitment to widening the space and increasing opportunities for young Nigerians to actualise their dreams and play their role in contributing to the development of their country.”
Scholarship beneficiaries
This year, the scholarship beneficiaries will traverse 20 different European countries. While the minimum number of counties of mobility for each student is three, some of the courses will take the beneficiaries to as many as six different countries. The Erasmus programme will enable the awardees to interact and exchange ideas with other students from different countries across the world.
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree is a life-changing experience, boosting opportunities for young Nigerians in within the country and abroad. The programme is built on the belief that the cultural exchange and education of youth is fundamental for the socio-economic development of societies as a whole. Besides the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, Erasmus+ also provides opportunities for mobility and cooperation with partner countries beyond Europe.
The Erasmus programme supports cooperation projects and policy development activities where organisations and higher education institutions can gain experience in international cooperation, strengthen their capacities, produce innovative approaches, exchange good practices and network.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
