82 Nigerians awarded 2024 UK Chevening, commonwealth scholarships
The British Government has awarded 82 Nigerians the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships to pursue master’s degrees and PhD programs in the UK in 2024.
Among the recipients, 32 scholars were granted Chevening scholarships, while 50 scholars received Commonwealth scholarships.
These awards provide opportunities for Nigerians to study a wide range of academic disciplines at top universities in the United Kingdom.
A pre-departure ceremony for the scholars based in Abuja and surrounding areas was held on Tuesday, where the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Gill Lever, offered her congratulations to the recipients.
A similar ceremony will take place in Lagos next week, hosted by the Deputy Head of Mission, Abby Bernard, for scholars in Lagos and nearby cities.
During the Abuja ceremony, Mrs. Lever praised the scholars for their success in securing these highly competitive scholarships.
She noted that the UK remains committed to supporting the educational development of Nigerians and ensuring a transparent and inclusive selection process.
Lever encouraged the scholars to aim for excellence in their studies and to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the scholarships, including cultural exchanges and networking.
“The UK continues to support the educational development of Nigerians and remains transparent and inclusive in the selection process across the board,” Lever said.
“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 to create positive change in this country and the world.”
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The Director of Operations at British Council Nigeria, Idowu Akintade, also addressed the scholars, emphasizing the importance of the skills and knowledge they will gain from this opportunity.
He expressed hope that these scholars would use their newfound expertise to contribute to Nigeria’s development priorities.
“We hope the skills and knowledge you gain from this scholarship opportunity prepare you to make a positive impact on the development priorities of Nigeria,” Akintade stated.
“I encourage you all to build a strong network and continue to be great ambassadors of the prestigious Commonwealth and Chevening Scholarships.”
The UK Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are among the most sought-after academic awards globally, offering full financial support for scholars to study in the UK.
The programmes are designed to help recipients gain the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to contribute to their home countries’ development after completing their studies.
