Seventy-two Nigerians awarded Hungarian postgraduate and undergraduate scholarships are set to depart Nigeria on 22nd September 2033.
The Minister of State for Education in Nigeria, Dr. Yusuf Sununu stated this at a pre-departure ceremony with the beneficiaries in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Sununu urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the country and become catalysts of change when they returned to the country.
He also tasked them to continue to polish the good qualities they have been exposed to and be willing to learn, relearn, and unlearn as they begin the first phase of their life journeys.
“It is noteworthy that scholarship is a reward for excellence and an encouragement to brilliant Nigerians who could not afford to sponsor their studies in foreign countries,” Sununu said.
He equally encouraged them to acquire skills available in Hungary that could be used to develop themselves, Nigeria, and the whole world.
The Minister said; “Acquire requisite skills that may be available in your host country of study needed for national development, also embrace new challenges, embrace the power of knowledge as a tool for effective change, and make the most of the resources available to you.
“As this comes with the opportunity to shape your future and contribute to the betterment of the world,” he said.
According to him, In 1999, the Nigerian Government revitalised the scholarship scheme by investing more in national and international programmes.
“This is in a bid to strengthen the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) “
with development partners to develop the nation’s manpower needs,” Sununu said.
The Minister explained that despite the global economic downturn, the number of development partners has increased with many offering scholarships to Nigerians among which are; Hungary, China, Algeria, Romania, Morocco, Serbia, Mexico, Egypt, and others non regulars including Macedonia, Poland, South Korea, Greece, Japan, Tunisia and Turkey.
“In order to reciprocate their good gestures, Nigeria also offered scholarship awards to China and Romania in the past and hope to reactivate the gesture as these countries and others,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the government of Hungary for their immense contributions towards training Nigerian youths, thereby assisting Nigeria in achieving its development needs.
The Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Mrs Astra Ndajiwo said that 150 entries were received at the opening of the scholarship scheme to Hungary in 2022, and after rigorous screening 72 scaled through.
He said they had received their September to December allowances for their final departure to Hungary, adding that subsequent payment of their allowances would start from January 2024.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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