127 Nigerians get UK Chevening, Commonwealth scholarships for 2023

The British government has awarded 127 Nigerians the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships for 2023.

Both study scholarships are awarded to applicants to fund a wide range of master’s degrees and PhD programmes.

Richard Montgomery, the British high commissioner, spoke at the pre-departure reception for the 2023 awardees which was held in Abuja.

He congratulated beneficiaries who succeeded in securing a scholarship through the challenging application and interview process.

“Seeing you all here is a great testimony to hard work, perseverance and resilience through a highly competitive process,” the British high commissioner said.

“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.”

Among the awardees at the 2023 pre-departure reception is the Commonwealth scholar Michael Oyedoyin.

Oyedoyin will study Family and Child Psychology at the University of Chester in the UK.

“I have always loved to teach, and my first degree is in Teacher Education,” the scholar said.

“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.”

A Chevening scholar Odera Akpata, who will study International Business at the University of Warwick, added: “Reflecting on my last two applications, I am assured that great things happen to those who never give up.”

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to individuals who demonstrate intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to the development of their home country.

The Chevening scholarship, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, offered 44 Nigerian students fully-funded scholarships to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK for 2023.

The recipients were selected from a pool of over 14,000 applications in Nigeria and more than 62,000 applications across the globe.

Approximately 1,500 alumni have benefitted from the Chevening scholarship in Nigeria.

This year, the Commonwealth Scholarship sends off 83 scholars to study in the UK.

Every year, over 100 Nigerian students benefit from the scholarship for postgraduate and PhD degrees.

The Commonwealth scheme, it is believed, has impacted over 2500 alumni in Nigeria since its inception.