90 Nigerian receive EU varsities scholarships

The European Union (EU) has awarded scholarships to over 90 young Nigerians for various master degree programmes in universities across Europe under its Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees programme.

This international study programme is part of the EU’s flagship educational and training programme, Erasmus+, which supports education, training, youth and sport in Europes.

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“The number of students selected for the programme this year is record high and reflects the EU’s strong commitment to expanding opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youth.

“There can be no better way of investing in, and creating development opportunities for young Nigerians,” the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, said.

The latest number of beneficiaries is the highest to receive the scholarship in a single year, and represents a 125 per cent increase from the number that benefited from the programme last year.

Each of the 90 students will study for and earn a masters degree to be jointly awarded by a consortium of top grade European universities, organisers said in a statement.

It noted that increasing number of Nigerians have been studying in Europe under different EU scholarship schemes over the past decade.

Apart from scholarships, the Erasmus+ programme offers different opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experiences at institutions and organizations across all the countries that make up the European Union.

It said the Erasmus+ also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy.

This seeks to tackle unemployment, especially among young people; promote adult learning, especially for new skills and skills required by the labour market as well as encourage young people to take part in European democracy, it said.

“Part of the main changes introduced in this year include a new action supporting experimental models to increase the performance, attractiveness and competitiveness of higher education institutions on an European scale; while a specific Lot under Sector Skills Alliances supports the development of sectoral approaches through platforms of vocational excellence,” it added.