Scholarship: FG dispatches 115 young scholars to Russia, Algeria

A total of 115 young brilliant Nigerians who are the beneficiaries of the 2017/2018 Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship programme on Wednesday departed to Russia and Algeria for their further studies.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who spoke at a briefing and orientation ceremony for the scholars, in Abuja, explained that while 94 students departed to Russia, 21 others were dispatched to Algeria.

He noted that the scholarship was a reward for excellence and an encouragement to brilliant Nigerians who could not afford to sponsor their studies in foreign countries and the need to build skilled manpower base in Nigeria.

Adamu, who was represented by the Director, Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Lami Amodu, urged the scholars to be good ambassadors of Nigeria academically, morally and socially.

He said: “To be eligible for this award, the candidates must have obtained distinctions (As and Bs) in five subjects including English and Mathematics at one sitting in West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) not older than two years.”

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He added that this was followed by a written aptitude test usually conducted in March in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The Minister further explained that under this Bilateral Education Agreement scholarship award, tuition fees, accommodation and a little stipend would be provided by the donor country while Nigeria would provide supplementation allowance of $6000 per annum to augment feeding, local transportation, maintenance, equipment and books.

The Federal Government also gives the beneficiaries warm clothing allowance of $250, Health Insurance per annum, and take-off grant of N60,000 once before departure for undergraduates and take-off grant of N100,000 once before departure for postgraduates.

Other benefits include passages in the form of one-way tickets to the country and return ticket at the end of the course paid through the Nigerian Mission.

Adamu, said he was delighted that in spite of the global economic meltdown, the development partners were still offering a scholarship to Nigeria, saying this BEA scholarship offers come from countries like Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia among others.

He said Nigeria has also offered reciprocal scholarship awards to China, Romania and Sierra Leone.

He expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government to the governments of the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of Algeria for their kind gesture in helping Nigeria develop her manpower needs.

He warned the students to respect the laws and customs of their host counties, challenging them to work hard in order to return back with excellent results and in good character.

Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Mrs Asta Ndajiwo, advised the scholars to take their academic activities seriously, and justify the reason for leaving Nigeria to study abroad on a scholarship.