A
total of 74 Nigerian students will be travelling to Russia, China and Cuba for
post-graduate and first degree studies in different fields. The students bagged
the scholarships under the Bilateral Educational Agreement between Nigeria and
21 other foreign countries. The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i,
who disclosed this at the orientation programme for the scholars on Wednesday
in Abuja, said a total of 210 slots were given to Nigeria by the development
partners for the 2012/2013 session.
Rufa’i
said the students were drawn from each of the six geo-political zones of the
federation, using an online application aptitude test.
“Despite the
global economic downturn, the number of our development partners has increased
significantly, with the list ranging from Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Ukraine,
Cuba, Romania, Serbia, Greece, India among others.
“A total of 210
offers were given by our development partners for 2012/2013 session, but permit
me to state here that to whom much is given, much is expected, as you will be
required to sign the rules governing this awards,’’ she said.
The Director of
the Federal Scholarship Board, Mrs Hindatu Abdullahi, said Nigeria would have
lost about 153 slots to the keen contest by other competing countries, but for
the timely intervention of the Federal Government.
Abdullahi said
for the 2012 fiscal year, N968,146,476 was approved by Government to service
the scheme both at home and abroad.
She explained
that under the agreement, the host countries would bear the cost of tuition and
accommodation as well as provide a “little” stipend for the students, while
Nigeria would provide warm clothing and monthly allowances, pay the travel and
administrative expenses and feeding costs.
She noted that
the scheme was meant for brilliant and indigent Nigerians whose parents could
not afford to sponsor them to study abroad.
The director
said that all the beneficiaries had distinctions at one sitting in the West
Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) or National Examinations Council (NECO)
examinations.
She urged the
students to make very good use of the opportunity offered by the Federal
Government to study and preserve the good image of the country.
“There would be
no room for extension of scholarship awards owing to incompetence,’’ she said.
Abdullahi said
apart from the 70 scholars departing on Thursday night, four others had left
for Cuba to study medicine.