The British government has given prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth UK scholarships to 127 Nigerians to study a “wide range” of master’s degrees and PhD programs in 2023.
According to a statement issued Wednesday, the British High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery, congratulated scholarship recipients who were successful in obtaining a scholarship after a difficult application and interview procedure.
Speaking at a pre-departure reception held in Abuja, Montgomery said, “Seeing you all here is a great testimony to hard work, perseverance and resilience through a highly competitive process.
“I challenge each of you to aim for excellence in your studies, to be great ambassadors for Nigeria in the UK, and to take advantage of every opportunity during your scholarship – through growing your knowledge, enriching cultural exchange, and confident networking – and then bringing those experiences back to Nigeria and doing great things for your country while creating a positive change in this country and the world.”
Commonwealth Scholar, Michael Oyedoyin, who will study Family and Child Psychology at the University of Chester, UK, said, “I have always loved to teach, and my first degree is in Teacher Education.
“However, while teaching in schools, I observed that family issues were often the underlying cause of students’ poor academic performance and absence from school. Therefore, I chose this master’s to equip me to support my students beyond the classroom.”
Chevening Scholar, Odera Akpata, who will study International Business at the University of Warwick, UK, said, “Reflecting on my last two applications, I am assured that great things happen to those who never give up”.
Individuals who display intellectual talent, leadership potential, and a commitment to the development of their home country are eligible for Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships.
The Chevening Scholarship, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has awarded full scholarships to 44 Nigerian students to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the United Kingdom.
The beneficiaries were chosen from a pool of over 14,000 applicants in Nigeria and over 62,000 applications worldwide. In Nigeria, around 1,500 alumni have benefited from the Chevening fellowship.
“This year, the Commonwealth Scholarship sends off 83 scholars to study in the UK. Every year, over 100 Nigerian students benefit from the scholarship for postgraduate and PhD degrees. The Commonwealth scheme has impacted over 2500 alumni in Nigeria since its inception,” the statement added.
