EU Invests in Nigeria’s Future: Study in Europe Fair

 The European Union (EU) has launched the “Study in Europe Fair” to connect prospective Nigerian students with representatives of European universities to enhance access to quality education, especially for girls.

The initiative aims to promote European higher education opportunities, showcase academic programmes, and highlight research and scholarship opportunities.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, made this known while declaring the event open on Thursday in Kano.

He said, “more than 800 Nigerian students have received scholarships for master’s and PhD in Europe, while several Nigerian universities are now engaged in collaborative research under the Horizon Europe framework.”

Mignot added that the EU’s focus on education extends to technical and vocational training, aimed at
equipping Nigerian youths with the needed skills for a rapidly evolving job market.

He said, “initiatives such as the EU-ECOWAS Scholarship Programme on Sustainable Energy and various capacity-building projects are designed to enhance Nigeria’s human capital and foster innovation.

“The EU is not just investing in Nigeria’s economy but also in its people, ensuring that cooperation leads to prosperity, stability and sustainable development for future generations.”

He explained that the EU committed EUR 731 million in grants for Nigeria from 2021 to 2027, complemented by additional financing from the European Investment Bank and the soon-to-be-active European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, economic transformation, and regional stability.

On his part, Aminu Abdulsalam-Gwarzo, the Kano State Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Higher Education, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for youths.

Represented by Dr Hadi Bala-Yakasai, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Higher Education, he said that the government plans to sponsor an additional 1,002 students to study overseas. (NAN)