The Nation Newspaper

Tag: scholarships

  • SCHOLARSHIPS approaching deadlines

    Ghent Scholarships in Belgium for Developing Countries – 2014

    Scholarship Brief description:

    Ghent University offers postgraduate Masters scholarships to international students from selected developing countries who wish to study in Belgium and obtain a master’s degree at Ghent University.

    Host Institution(s):

    University of Ghent in Belgium

    Field(s) of study:

    Eligible Master Grants programmes International Master of Science in Rural Development International Master of Science in Environmental Technology and Engineering Master of Science in Technology for Integrated Water Management Master of Advanced Studies in European Law

    Erasmus Mundus: Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

    Erasmus Mundus: European Master of Science in Nematology Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology Master of Science in Statistical Data Analysis Master of Science in Photonics Science and Engineering Master of Science in Textile Engineering Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering + 7 International Course Programmes (ICP) Master of Science in Aquaculture Master of Science in Environmental Sanitation Master of Science in Food Technology Master of Science in Nematology Master of Science in Physical Land Resources Master of Science of Nutrition and Rural Development Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management, All residents from the VLIR-UOS country list can only apply for an ICP-scholarship (International Course Programme) and not for a Master grant. Residents from Angola, Myanmas, Niger, Pakistan, Algeria, China and Namibië can apply for a Master grant.

    Number of Scholarships:

    Each year, a maximum of 10 scholarships can be awarded.

    Target group:

    The scholarships are for international students from developing countries listed on the Master Grants country list (PDF).

    Scholarship value/inclusions:

    The scholarship is in principle paid for the total duration of the studies. The scholarship consists of an allowance of €1000 per month and the yearly tuition fee with a maximum of 80€. Once you get an installation fee of 500€. In case of increased tuition fee for the master’s programme, Ghent University will only reimburse the refundable part. Airline ticket and visa costs are carried by the student.

    Eligibility:

    Degree:

    Applicants for master’s programmes should already have obtained a bachelor degree when they submit the application.

    Nationality:

    The applicants must come from and should be nationals of one of the developing countries on the Master Grants country list (PDF). Priority, however, will be given to the categories on the country list with the lowest levels of development and income. Priority will also be given to students applying for an ICP-programme whose country is not on the VLIR-country list but on the UGent list.

    Language and proficiency:

    The application is to be made in English. The applicant should have a very good command of the English language. Click here to see the requirements.

     

    To be continued

     

     

    must include the following documents:

    ” completed application form;

    ” motivation essay of no more than 1000 words, explaining why they need a scholarship, and what they hope to gain from their studies at Charles University;

    ” two letters of recommendation from teachers, who know the student from their previous studies, including confirmation of the student’s financial need.

    Note: The current scholarship holders who are reapplying do not need to submit the two recommendation letters or write the essay. Please include a cover note and one recommendation letter from a Charles University academic who knows you from your studies with your application.

    3. Applications should be sent to Manager, International Office (at the address below). All documents submitted must be originals and written in the English language, or accompanied by certified translations.

    4. The deadline for scholarship applications is 30 April 2014. Students who will have problems meeting this deadline due to inefficient or unreliable postal services may, as a temporary measure, submit fax copies and/or scanned copies by e-mail. However, originals must also be sent, and final decisions will not be made until originals have been received.

    Selection of Applicants

    1. All scholarship applications received by the deadline will be assessed by a Scholarship Review Board, which will recommend five students to receive scholarships to the Dean of the Faculty. The decision of the Board on which students it will recommend for a scholarship will be independent of the deliberations of the Admissions Panel regarding which students to admit. However, only students finally admitted by the Faculty are eligible to become scholarship holders.

    2. In addition to the documents submitted by scholarship applicants, the Scholarship Review Board will take into consideration applicants’ results from their earlier studies. Priority will be given to students who have not previously had the opportunity to study abroad.

    3. A final decision regarding the students to be offered scholarships will be made by the Dean. The Dean will not enter into correspondence with unsuccessful applicants regarding this decision.

    Financial Terms and Conditions

    1. Successful scholarship applicants will receive payment at the start of their first semester, no later than one month after they register for their studies. No money will be paid in advance of the students’ arrival in Prague.

    2. Before students receive their scholarships, they will also be required to make an advance payment in respect of their school fees for the second semester. This payment will be held as a surety until February 2015, and will thereafter be used to cover the cost of the student’s classes in the second semester. No further charge will be made for school fees in school year 2014/15.

    3. In the event that students are forced to terminate their studies for disciplinary reasons, the surety they have paid for their school fees in the second semester is not returnable. However, in the event that students are unable to continue their studies for medical reasons, an adequate refund can be negotiated.

    4. Scholarships are awarded for school year 2014/15, and may not be deferred to later years.

    5. In the event that the Faculty of Social Sciences succeeds in obtaining the necessary funding to continue this scholarship scheme in school year 2015/16, existing scholarship holders will be given the opportunity to reapply. However, any extension of the scholarship will be conditional on students achieving satisfactory results in their first year.

    6. Scholarships will not be offered for a third year of study (master’s degree) or for a fourth year of study (bachelor’s degree) under any circumstances.

    POST YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION TO:

    Manager, International, Office, Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Smetanovo, nabrezi, 6110 01, Praha 1,Czech Republic

    E-mail: svoz@fsv.cuni.cz (enquiries only)

    END

    TWAS-USM Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for Developing Countries

    TWAS-USM Fellowship is a Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for Developing Countries except Malaysia. Read all for more information.

    For young scientists from developing countries (other than Malaysia) who wish to pursue advanced research in the natural sciences at the UniversitiSains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia. Deadline 15 September.

    IMPORTANT: The following is additional information concerning the TWAS-USM Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme tenable in Malaysia. It is an integral part of the information given here: TWAS Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research.

    Applicants should be aware that they can apply for only one fellowship per year. With the exception of the fellowships “for research collaboration”, all other fellowship programmes offered by TWAS and TWOWS that are mutually exclusive.

    Programme Details

    1. TWAS-USM Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable in the departments, institutions and laboratories of the UniversitiSains Malaysia (USM) for a minimum period of twelve (12) months to a maximum period of three years and are awarded to young scientists from developing countries (other than Malaysia) to enable them to pursue advanced research in the natural sciences.

    2. USM will provide a standard monthly allowance which should be used to cover living costs, such as accommodation and food.

    3. The language of instruction is English.

    Eligibility

    Applicants for these fellowships must meet the following criteria:

    ” be nationals of a developing country (other than Malaysia);

    ” must not hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in Malaysia or any developed country;

    ” hold a PhD degree in a field of the natural sciences;

    ” apply for the fellowship within five years of having obtained a PhD degree in a field of the natural sciences;

    ” be regularly employed in a developing country (other than Malaysia) and hold a research assignment there;

    ” provide an official Acceptance Letter from a department, laboratory or institute at USM (see sample Acceptance Letter in the application form). Requests for acceptance must be directed to the Dean, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, USM (Prof. MuhamadJantan: by e-mail twasusm@gmail.com, mjantan@usm.my) who will facilitate assignment of a host supervisor. In contacting Prof. Jantan applicants must accompany their request for an Acceptance Letter with copy of their latest CV and a short write-up of research proposal (maximum 3 pages);

    ” provide evidence of proficiency in English;

    ” be financially responsible for any accompanying family member.

    Submitting your application

    ” The deadline for receipt of applications is 15 September of each year.

    ” Applicants should submit the acceptance letter from a USM department/laboratory to TWAS and USM when applying or by the deadline at the latest. Without preliminary acceptance, the application will not be considered for selection.

    ” Reference letters: Referees must send signed letters as attachment via e-mail directly to TWAS and USM. The subject line must contain: USM/ PDoc/the candidate’s surname. Alternatively, letters should be sent by post in sealed envelopes. Only signed reference letters can be accepted.

    ” Applicants to the TWAS-USM Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme should send their application to TWAS and USM (by post, fax or email).

    APPLICATION FORM:

    Click on the links below to download the application form and guidelines. Before applying it is recommended that you read very carefully the application guidelines for detailed information on eligibility criteria, deadlines and other key requirements of the application procedure.

    ” PDoc Application form

    ” PDoc Application Guidelines

    Contact Details

    Prof. MuhamadJantan

    Dean, Institute of Postgraduate Studies

    UniversitiSains Malaysia (USM)

    11800 Penang, Malaysia

    Phone: +604-653-2930

    Fax: +604-653-2931

    E-mail: twasusm@gmail.com

    mjantan@usm.my

    TWAS Fellowships Office

    ICTP Campus, StradaCostiera 11

    34151 Trieste, Italy

    Phone: +39 040 2240-314

    Fax: +39 040 2240-689

    E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

    Visit Scholarships Website: http://twas.ictp.it/prog/exchange/fells/fells-pdoc/usm-pdoc

    End

    Erasmus Mundus Scholarships For Developing Countries

    Erasmus Mundus Scholarships is a European Union Scholarships for Students in developing countries to MS/PhD Degree in European Countries. The deadline for application has always been between December and January annually and the courses normally start around August/September every year.

    Scholarship description:

    The European Union offers fully-funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Masters programmes and Doctorate programmes to students coming from developing countries.

    These scholarships are exclusively awarded to students that have been selected to attend one of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes at Masters or Doctorate level.

    Host Institution(s):

    European Universities/Institutions participating under approved Erasmus Mundus Action Joint Programmes.

    Field(s) of Study:

    For 2013-2014, about 139 Masters courses and 43 Joint Doctorate courses are supported by scholarships. The field(s) of study covered are: Agriculture and Veterinary, Engineering, Manufacture and Construction, Health and Welfare, Humanities and Arts, Science, Mathematics and Computing, and Social Sciences, Business and Law.

    Number of Awards:

    From the period of 2009-2013, about 5,300 Masters students and 440 Doctoral students from developing countries will be awarded with an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

    Target group:

    Students from developing/emerging countries who do not come from the 27 Member States of the EU and who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of these countries.

    Scholarship value/inclusions:

    The programme offers full-time scholarships and/or fellowships that cover the living costs, tuition fees, travelling and insurance costs of the students.

    Scholarship amounts can vary according to the level of studies/teaching/research, their duration (3 months to 3 years) and the grantee’s nationality (scholarships for non-EU individuals are higher than for EU individuals).

    Eligibility:

    Please note that each Erasmus Mundus Joint Programme defines its own selection criteria and admission procedures. Students or scholars should contact the Consortium offering the Masters /Doctoral Programmes for more information.

    Application instructions:

    For the academic year 2013/2014 you are advised to consult in advance the websites of each of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes (Masters/Doctorates) that interest you. There you will find all necessary information concerning the content of the course, its structure, the scholarship amounts as well as the application and selection procedures. Deadline varies from program to program. The deadline varies per programme but is around October to January annually.

    It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

    Contact information:

    Since each individual joint programme consortium is responsible for its own application and selection procedures (and timetable), interested candidates should consult the relevant website in order to take notice of these procedures. If necessary, they should contact the consortium for further information.

    You will find further information on the Action 1 of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes in the updated version of the “frequently asked questions” (FAQs).

    Scholarships Website:

    Official Scholarship Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/funding/scholarships_students_academics_en.php#1

    Erasmus Mundus Programme Guidelines 2009-2013 (See Chapters 4 & 5): http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/programme/documents/guide_emdec09_%20en.pdf

    End

     

     

  • Abia rewards 12 pupils with cash, scholarships

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has given scholarship to 12 pupils who came first in the Pre-Centenary Inter-state Presidential debate for primary schools and the inter-state science exhibition for primary schools in Abuja.

    The governor spoke in Umuahia when he received the 12 pupils and their teachers.

    The scholarship to the 12 pupils will take them up to the university level. They will also get N100,000 in appreciation of their feat.

    Six of the pupils took part in the Pre-Centenary Inter-state Presidential debate for primary schools and the other six took part in a competition by the Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria.

    Orji said: “I don’t want this pledge to end here. I will approve same and get the money out for them to deposit in their banks.”

    He gave the N1 million to the teachers.

    He said: “This is for the good works you the teachers have done on the pupils to make them come first during the presidential debate and science exhibition.”

     

  • Group awards five HR scholarships

    The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the world’s largest Human Resource (HR) practitioner body, has announced plans to award five international certification scholarships of $800 each in 2013 to HR professionals in Nigeria.

    The scholarship is targeted at those pursuing professional certification as a Human Resource Business Professional (HRBP) or Human Resource Management Professional (HRMP). The HRBP and HRMP are globally-relevant credentials for HR practitioners outside the United States.

    Oliver Nnona, SHRM Nigeria’s Country Leader, said in a statement that the scholarship is being sponsored by the SHRM Foundation.

    On the scholarship eligibility, Nnona said: “Human resource professionals and HR educators located outside the United States including Nigeria who have taken an HRBP or HRMP certification exam in the 2013 calendar year are eligible to apply. Also eligible are those preparing to sit for an exam within the next year.”

    The statement added that criteria such as work experience and commitment to a career in human resource management, volunteer and teaching experience, and financial need will play a part in the selection of recipients among those who apply for the scholarship.

  • Firm to assist students get foreign scholarships

    Firm to assist students get foreign scholarships

    Usually, students are the ones that seek out firms that can help them travel abroad for further studies. However, the reverse is the case with Avail International Consul Limited (AICL), which is seeking to help students get into secondary and tertiary institutions in the United Kingdom (UK), United States and Canada irrespective of the funds they have.

    Mrs Bola Agunbiade, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AICL, said in an interview with The Nation at the firm’s Ogba, Lagos office, that they can help brilliant students with good grades in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) attract scholarships from reputable institutions outside Nigeria.

    “There are several scholarship opportunities abroad that people are not even aware of. We want to be able to reach out to students, especially those who are intelligent who have come out in flying colours in their O/levels. They may not have the financial capability to travel abroad; however, there are opportunities for such students to get scholarship. It may be full scholarship, it might be tuition reduction,” she said.

    After evaluating their credentials, Mrs Agunbiade said the firm would help scholarship potentials to present their applications to the universities. She added that for the next two months especially, AICL would offer its services free to all categories of students in commemoration of its second anniversary. She said they would benefit from visa counselling, evaluation and tutorials.

    “We are inviting students and their parents to come in from June 26 all through July and the whole of August. We are looking at them going in for September. We are encouraging them to come here and it is going to be free. We are inviting them to celebrate our second anniversary.

    “We will evaluate their documentation, check credentials, see the ones that are really intelligent, assist to writing good personal statement because this is one of the requirements for scholarships and send the applications off to these institutions and see as many scholarship opportunities we can give out to these students for free. Those who can afford the fees and even those who already have admissions can come in we offer free counseling to them help them with their visa application, give them mock interview based on the likely questions they might be asked at the interview centres and embassies to ease the application process.“

    However, despite the firm’s enthusiasm to help potential students get admissions abroad, Mrs Agunbiade said it only assists those with genuine intention to study. She said if they go abroad for other reasons and misbehave, they spoil the country’s reputation.

    She added: “It is easy for me to tell if the student is genuine. Their parents may have money and just want them to travel. But by the time I talk to them, forgetting even their credentials, I can tell. They might not have the genuine intention to go abroad and really study and its not good for us because institutions come back and blame us that why did we send a student that is not serious.

    “I have about 40 schools in the UK and we have contracts. They make out rules and they insist we must send genuine students. If I have any doubt I tell them no I won’t process it.“

  • Firm to assist students get foreign scholarships

    Firm to assist students get foreign scholarships

    Usually, students are the ones that seek out firms that can help them travel abroad for further studies. However, the reverse is the case with Avail International Consul Limited (AICL), which is seeking to help students get into secondary and tertiary institutions in the United Kingdom (UK), United States and Canada irrespective of the funds they have.

    Mrs Bola Agunbiade, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AICL, said in an interview with The Nation at the firm’s Ogba, Lagos office, that they can help brilliant students with good grades in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) attract scholarships from reputable institutions outside Nigeria.

    “There are several scholarship opportunities abroad that people are not even aware of. We want to be able to reach out to students, especially those who are intelligent who have come out in flying colours in their O/levels. They may not have the financial capability to travel abroad; however, there are opportunities for such students to get scholarship. It may be full scholarship, it might be tuition reduction,” she said.

    After evaluating their credentials, Mrs Agunbiade said the firm would help scholarship potentials to present their applications to the universities. She added that for the next two months especially, AICL would offer its services free to all categories of students in commemoration of its second anniversary. She said they would benefit from visa counselling, evaluation and tutorials.

    “We are inviting students and their parents to come in from June 26 all through July and the whole of August. We are looking at them going in for September. We are encouraging them to come here and it is going to be free. We are inviting them to celebrate our second anniversary.

    “We will evaluate their documentation, check credentials, see the ones that are really intelligent, assist to writing good personal statement because this is one of the requirements for scholarships and send the applications off to these institutions and see as many scholarship opportunities we can give out to these students for free. Those who can afford the fees and even those who already have admissions can come in we offer free counseling to them help them with their visa application, give them mock interview based on the likely questions they might be asked at the interview centres and embassies to ease the application process.“

    However, despite the firm’s enthusiasm to help potential students get admissions abroad, Mrs Agunbiade said it only assists those with genuine intention to study. She said if they go abroad for other reasons and misbehave, they spoil the country’s reputation.

    She added: “It is easy for me to tell if the student is genuine. Their parents may have money and just want them to travel. But by the time I talk to them, forgetting even their credentials, I can tell. They might not have the genuine intention to go abroad and really study and its not good for us because institutions come back and blame us that why did we send a student that is not serious.

    “I have about 40 schools in the UK and we have contracts. They make out rules and they insist we must send genuine students. If I have any doubt I tell them no I won’t process it.“

  • ABUAD earmarks N28.5m for scholarships

    •Founder’s Day holds on Thursday

    Outstanding students and workers of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), will, on Thursday, receive scholarships and awards worth N28.5 million.

    The occasion is the Third Annual ABUAD Founder’s Dinner, Scholarships/Merit Awards holding at the university’s new auditorium.

    The 265 beneficiaries, spread across the six geo-political zones, will receive scholarships, ranging from N500,000, N400,000, N100,000 and N75,000 to N50,000.

    Exceptional students, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0, will get N500,000 each.

    Those with a CGPA between 4.5 and 4.9 are to receive N75,000 and N100,000.

    Indigent students with proof of inability to continue their education in ABUAD will get N400,000 scholarships each.

    The Sportsman/Sportswoman of the year are to get N50,000 and N100,000.

    The Most Disciplined Student; Most Outstanding Student Leader; Most Outstanding Student of Integrity; Neatest Student; Most Industrious Student; Best Dressed Student and Most Persevering Student will be honoured.

    Also to be honoured are Lecturer of the Year; Most Engaged Lecturer; Most Punctual Lecturer; Most Persevering Lecturer and Most Effective Academic Lecturer.

    Each category carries a N100,000 cash tag. The Outstanding Non-teaching Staff; Most-Caring Parents and Most-performing Venture Staff, among others, will get N50,000 each.

    ABUAD Founder Aare Afe Babalola said the award is to restate his commitment to reformatory education in Nigeria “to encourage and improve academic performance as well as excellence in character and integrity.”

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, are the guests of honour.

  • 2 Nigerian players bag ITTF scholarships

    Two Nigerian table tennis players who excelled at the Zone 3 West Africa Open Age Group Table Tennis Championships have been awarded the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hope Future Players Scholarships.

    Nasiru Bello, the head coach of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), who led nine Nigerian players to the competition in Cote d’Ivoire, disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos. Bello said the players are Tosin Oribamise who featured in the female U-13 category and Ahmed Osibanjo, male category.

    Bello, who expressed joy at the U-13 players’ performance, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Abidjan that the performance was an indication that there are talents Nigeria. He said performance underscored the need for the sport to be supported.

    Bello said Oribamise defeated her compatriot Blessing Eniola in the final to emerge winner and won the ITTF award.

    “In spite of the fact that we did not get to Cote d’Ivoire on time because we went by road, I was marvelled by these players’ performances. They have proved that there are immense talents in Nigeria. She defeated her teammate who was also good. I am so delighted,’’ he said.

    Bello said Ahmed Osibanjo won the male category of the award having defeated fellow Nigerian Abayomi Martins. He said most of the players were discovered at the National School Sports Festival in Port Harcourt in January. He appealed to corporate bodies to identify with table tennis.

    “After playing vigorously with their counterparts from other West African countries, these young boys proved their mettle by doing themselves and the country proud. Our aim has been achieved by winning the two ITTF scholarships and this will help the concerned players to pursue their career,’’ he said.

    Burkina Faso, Guinea, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria took part in the championships held in Abidjan between Thursday and Sunday.

     

  • Changing lives through scholarships

    Changing lives through scholarships

    Nelson Mandela, one of Africa’s most respected leaders once described ‘education as the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world’. All over the world, leaders in the mould of Mandela know that education is not just a just a tool employed for the development of human mind but also a veritable means of the developing the society.

    With a consciousness that a well educated citizenry will ultimately give birth to a civilised society; such leaders devote time, money and other resources to the education of their people. They build schools, furnish classrooms and libraries, employ the best hands as teachers and most importantly give scholarship to deserving students.

    In Nigeria, giving scholarships to students is a trend that is gradually waning. Some years back, government at all levels; corporate organisations and individuals who had the wherewithal considered it part of their civic responsibilities to reward outstanding students with scholarships. Some of the Nigeria’s brightest academicians and public officers today were at some point in their lives beneficiaries of various scholarship schemes.

    Unfortunately, that is not the case for Nigerian students today. Despite the rot in the educational sector, outstanding students who sacrifice a lot to succeed are often not rewarded due to the lack of scholarship opportunities. They graduate with the best grades only to join the burgeoning army of hapless unemployed youths.

    It is in the light of the above stated fact, that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state should be commended for his investments in education through scholarships. While it is undisputable that there is a deficiency of scholarship opportunities for students in the country, it is not so in Delta State. Since he took over the reins in the state, the governor has initiated and sustained several scholarship scheme that have contributed in no small way to the human capital development of the state.

    The most evident and perhaps the most appreciated of Dr. Uduaghan’s scholarship initiatives is the overseas scholarship for First Class graduates from Delta State. Under this noble scheme, Delta State students with a First Class degree in their respective disciplines are given full scholarship to further their studies for Masters and PH.D any institution in the United States United Kingdom or any other country in the world.

    Geared towards the attainment of the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative of Uduaghan’s administration, the overseas scholarship scheme has recorded more than 135 graduates from various parts of the state as beneficiaries since its inception in 2010. There are still more beneficiaries waiting to be mobilised for the next round.

    One cannot help but commend Dr. Uduaghan for his vision and firm belief in education as a potent tool for development of Delta State and Nigeria. In country that relies solely on crude oil as its mainstay, it is important for us to diversify and see the possibility of living without oil.

    As the governor noted during the presentation ceremony for the last set of beneficiaries in Asaba recently, investments in human capital development is the only way to build capacity that will ultimately lead to the overall development of the state and the country at large.

    China became a major force in world economy today because its leaders diversified and invested massively in education. In the 1970’s the country assembled its best brains and sponsored them to Europe and America for further studies. That singular investment generated a pool of skilled personnel that has made China one of the best economies in the world today.

    Another commendable thing about this scholarship scheme is that the beneficiaries are not under any bond to work for the Delta State government when they return. They are free to work in any organisation within and outside the state. Some of them may even go as far as setting up their own organisations and employ people to work for them. It is also open to students from both private and government owned institutions. In all ramifications, the scholarship is geared towards the development of Delta State and Nigeria.

    Beyond the overseas scholarships, Dr. Uduaghan’s massive investments in education through bursaries and other grants cannot be overemphasized. Delta is perhaps the only state in the country where funds are earmarked for scholarships at every level of education.

    At the twilight of his first term in office, the governor increased the annual bursary of Delta State students in every higher institution in Nigeria from a meagre N8, 000 to N20, 000. Since the increase was effected, more than 10,000 students benefit from it every year.

    Aside from this, Law graduates from Delta State who have to go through the Nigerian Law School before applying for the overseas scholarship are paid N100, 000 each as incentives. At the last presentation ceremony, there were 354 of such graduates present. At the same event, the governor revealed plans to float an aviation scholarship for students who may be interested in aviation.

    With this avalanche of investments in education, the current administration under Dr. Uduaghan has shown a commendable dedication to excellence, which should be sustained by subsequent administrations and emulated by other state governments. Although the rewards may not be seen at the moment, it will be seen someday. By time the beneficiaries return and contribute their quota to the development of the country, we will all see reasons to commend Dr. Uduaghan for transforming lives with his scholarship schemes.

     

    • Ohwofasa writes from Lagos

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Korean scholarships for six Nigerian students

    THE Republic of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) office in Nigeria has awarded post-graduate scholarships to six Nigerian students to study in Korea.

    Mr Sang Jung, Chief Resident Representative at the agency’s office in Abuja, disclosed this yesterday during the orientation for the awardees.

    Jung told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the scholarships would provide the opportunity for the students to learn from Korea’s experience in poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

    He said that KOICA was an agency of the Korean government responsible for the delivery of grants and technical cooperation programmes in developing countries.

    He said that 16 Nigerian students had in the last five years benefited from scholarships awarded by KOICA.

  • Total, French Embassy offer scholarships to Nigerians

    Total Plc and the Embassy of France in Nigeria have initiated a joint scholarship scheme to sponsor the training of five Nigerians abroad every year.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Manager (External Communication) of Total, Mr. Charles Ebereonwu, said the scheme was part of the company’s efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s education sector.

    It noted that the Joint Scholarship Scheme (‘TQJS’) titled:“Total E &P Nigeria Ltd. (TEPNG) /Quai d’ Orsay’’ would take effect from the 2012/2013 academic session.

    The statement, however, said the pilot stage of the scheme had commenced this year with one candidate sponsored to study international law in France.

    It stressed that the agreement for the training was signed by Mr. Guy Maurice, the Managing Director of TEPNG, and Amb. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, the French Ambassador to Nigeria.

    The statement quoted de Labriolle as saying that the scheme was based on the need to contribute to the training of Nigerians in different fields, while commending Total for contributing to the development of the Nigerian society.

    It also quoted Maurice as saying that the initiative was a reflection of the company’s confidence in the country and a continuation of what it had been doing in the past.

    The News Agency of Nigeria says Total has been collaborating with top-rated institutions across the world, as part of its human capacity development efforts.