The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuella Isopi, said on Thursday that 800 Nigerian students were awarded scholarships under the Erasmus Programme between 2014 and 2023.
Samuella Isopi who spoke at the flag-off of the “Study in Europe Fair,” which was held in Kano, Northwest Nigeria, said that for more than 10 years now, Erasmus has been open to students from all over the world.
Amb @SamuelaIsopiEU & Ambs. @NLAmbPlomp & @PieterLeenknegt, this morning interacted with pupils and teachers of the Govt Girls Arabic Secondary School, Gama Kano, to kickstart @EUinNigeria’s #GlobalGateway’s education and youth empowerment programme in Northwestern Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/1UVgfGFfab
— EU in Nigeria 🇪🇺🇳🇬 (@EUinNigeria) October 26, 2023
The EU ambassador explained that the event is not only about connecting people through education opportunities for young Nigerians who study in Europe but also through cooperation opportunities between universities and higher education institutions in Europe and Nigeria.
She explained that education in Europe would help students develop the skills they need to be successful in life, but it would also help your country develop its human capital, which is fundamental for its development.
“This initiative today is not an encouragement to Java, but an opportunity to develop and use the skills you will develop in Europe to the benefit of your society and the benefit of your country,” she said.
In his remarks, the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsslam Gwarzo, said no fewer than one million out-of-school children are roaming the streets of Kano, pointing out that the state government is doing everything possible to get them back to school.
He expressed the readiness of the state government to partner with the EU in addressing the challenges.
According to him, the state government is constructing 75 new junior secondary schools in addition to 55 senior secondary schools across the state as part of an effort to address the problem of out-of-school children.
