UK spends £1.35m on scholarship for 45 Nigerian scholars in 2015

The UK says it has spent approximately £1.35 million (approximately N400 million) in sponsoring 45 Nigerian Chevening scholars currently in the UK universities for the 2015/2016 session.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria at a welcome reception for the 2014/2015 Chevening scholars, who just returned from the UK.
According to Arkwright, over 1,000 Nigerians had benefitted from the scholarship since its inception in 1984.
He said: “The average cost of an award is £30,000.
“The UK spent approximately £1,350,000 in sending the 45 scholars currently in the UK universities for the 2015/2016 cycle.
“Chevening boasts of an alumni network exceeding 43,000 members, of which over 1,000 are Nigerians.”
Arkwright said as an important element of Britain’s public diplomacy effort, Chevening Scholarships are structured to create lasting positive relationships with Nigeria.
The UK envoy explained that the Chevening scholarship slot for Nigerians has increased from 12 to 45 currently in the 2016/2017 session.
He said over the years, scholars had attended top UK universities such as the Imperial College, London; University of Oxford; University of Cambridge; and Kings College, London.
Arkwright added: “This year, we have had a very significant increase in the number of Nigerians who are studying in the UK.
“We have increased it now from 12 to 45, which is a very big increase.
“It shows the commitment of the British Government to Nigeria.
“It shows the commitment of the British Government to young talented Nigerians.
“We want to promote young people in Nigeria.
“We want to help them to achieve their aims, ambitions and goals.
“We want to provide some of the very best education that this world has to offer in some of the very best universities in the world.
“I am really pleased that we have expanded the programme, that we have increased the numbers of young talented Nigerians.”
Arkwright said Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications globally, with 3,375 applications out of the 43,000 applicants from 114 countries for the current 2016/2017 cycle.
He said to further meet the increase Nigerian demands, the High Commission entered into an agreement with partner organisations to co-fund specific Chevening awards through Chevening Local Partnerships.
He said Nigeria was very strategic to the UK, adding that the two countries had traditional ties, historical links and deep friendship.
He said some notable Nigerian Chevening scholars are John Momoh, the Managing Director of Channels Television; Sanusi Lamido, the Emir of Kano; and Simon Kolawole, the publisher of The Cable.
The others are Adesola Adeduntan, the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria; Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of Sports; Valentine Ozigbo, the Managing Director of Transcorp Hotels, and a host of others.
NAN reports that applications for Chevening Scholarships are on between August and November every year.
NAN.