Eighty-five Nigerians have secured the highly coveted Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships from the United Kingdom Government to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies in the UK this year.
This was according to the British High Commission, disclosing that 39 scholars and one fellow were selected for the Chevening Scholarship, while another 45 secured the Commonwealth Scholarship. A pre-departure event was hosted in Abuja on Wednesday for recipients from the Federal Capital Territory and nearby states, with a similar ceremony scheduled for Lagos in September.
In her remarks, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Gill Lever, praised the recipients, describing them as exceptional individuals who successfully emerged from a tough and highly competitive selection process.
“We are proud to see another batch of scholars depart over the next few weeks for the UK, knowing they will come back and add to a very strong Chevening network in Nigeria,” she said. “They will act as ambassadors by sharing their understanding of systems, policies, and life in the UK—bringing those experiences back to Nigeria and driving positive change.”
Director of Programmes at the British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, urged the awardees to use their studies to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
“You carry with you not only your personal aspirations but also the hopes of your communities. The knowledge, skills, and networks you acquire will return as seeds of innovation, leadership, and progress for our nation,” he said.
Several of the awardees shared their excitement about the opportunity. Tijjanni Mukaddas, a Chevening Fellow bound for the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, said the fellowship would equip him with the knowledge to design education policies capable of making a meaningful impact.
Similarly, Commonwealth Scholar Cynthia Okoli, who is set to study at the Royal Veterinary College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, expressed her eagerness to forge lasting networks across different disciplines and cultures during her time in the UK.
The UK Government emphasized that Nigeria continues to rank among the top beneficiaries of the two scholarship schemes, with more than 4,500 alumni to date about 3,000 from the Commonwealth Scholarship and 1,500 from Chevening, many of whom are now making significant contributions to the country’s development.
