127 Nigerians receive UK Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships

The British Government has awarded 127 Nigerians with the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth UK scholarships to study a wide range of master’s and doctorate degree programmes in 2023.

This announcement was made in an official press release by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, the Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the British High Commission, on Wednesday.

The beneficiaries were honored at a reception held in Abuja, which was attended by Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner. During the event, Dr. Montgomery extended his commendation and congratulations to the awardees for their dedication that led to receiving these scholarships.

In his speech, Montgomery remarked, “Your presence here is a remarkable testament to your diligence, persistence, and ability to excel in a fiercely competitive selection process. I encourage each of you to strive for excellence in your academic pursuits, represent Nigeria with pride during your time in the UK, and seize every opportunity during your scholarship experience.

By expanding your knowledge, engaging in enriching cultural exchanges, and building valuable networks, you can then apply these experiences in Nigeria, effecting positive change both within the country and globally.”

Sharing his perspective on the scholarship, Michael Oyedoyin, a Commonwealth Scholar who will study Family and Child Psychology at the University of Chester, UK, expressed, “Though my initial degree is in Teacher Education and I’ve always been passionate about teaching,

I noticed that underlying family issues often impacted students’ academic performance and attendance. This is why I’ve chosen this master’s program, to equip myself with the skills to support my students beyond the classroom.”

Similarly, Chevening Scholar Odera Akpata, who is set to pursue International Business at the University of Warwick, UK, shared, “Reflecting on my previous two application attempts, I am convinced that success comes to those who persist.”

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships are conferred upon individuals who display intellectual capability, leadership potential, and a commitment to the development of their home country. The Chevening Scholarship, which marks its 40th anniversary this year, granted 44 fully-funded scholarships to Nigerian students pursuing one-year master’s degrees in the UK.

The selection process involved screening over 14,000 applications from Nigeria and more than 62,000 applications worldwide. Over the years, about 1,500 Nigerian alumni have benefited from the Chevening scholarship.

In the same vein, the Commonwealth Scholarship program is sending 83 scholars to the UK this year. Annually, more than 100 Nigerian students are awarded the scholarship for postgraduate and PhD studies. Since its inception, the Commonwealth scheme has made a significant impact on over 2,500 alumni in Nigeria.