By Olukayode Idowu
The British Government has awarded 127 Nigerians, the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth UK scholarships to study a wide range of master’s degrees and PhD programmes in 2023.
Speaking at a pre-departure reception held in Abuja, the British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery CMG, congratulated beneficiaries who succeeded in securing a scholarship through the challenging application and interview process.
Speaking at the reception, the British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery CMG 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”.