20 Nigerians Depart for Sponsored University Education in India

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Indian High Commission to Nigeria has revealed that no fewer than Nigerians are departing the shores of the country between mid-July and early August for university education in India.

The high commission further revealed that the scholarships are fully sponsored by the Government of India.

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Shri Balasubramanian revealed this at an orientation programme for the 20 beneficiaries, asking them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria to India by being well mannered and facing their studies.

The beneficiaries are mostly going in for MBA, B.Sc or M.Sc (Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Space Science, etc.), Ph.D., Pharmacy, Engineering, Economics, Agriculture, IT, Cyber Security, among other.

The Indian government has yearly since 1958 been sponsoring Nigerians to study at various Indian university under the Indian Council Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship Programme which has seen several thousands of student worldwide and over a thousand Nigerians benefiting from the scheme.

At the orientation programme, the high commissioner equally advised them to make sure they return back to Nigeria and involve in their homeland socio-economic growth.

He said: “India is counting on them to be promoters of Indo-Nigerian relationship as they are going to be accustomed to the two cultures, which noting that both Nigeria and India are multicultural and share many things in common.

“India is well known as an education hub attracting international students from all over the world. India’s robust education system, in the backdrop of its rich diversity and vibrant culture and history, affords a broad range of options for students.

“As a rapidly growing country with a leading technological edge, studying in India has much to offer, whether it is Engineering, Computers, Arts, Philosophy, Political Sciences or Classics etc.

“Indian Council for Cultural Relations administers various scholarship programs annually and awards about 3000+ scholarships under 21 different schemes to foreign students from about 180 countries.

“Amongst these 21 schemes, six are funded by ICCR from its grant and others are administered on behalf of MEA and Ministry of Ayush. The courses offered for studies are for Under-graduation, Post-graduation and Ph.D. levels.

“Each academic year, ICCR has about 6000+ of its foreign scholars who are studying at various Central/State Universities, Institutes, NITs, and Agricultural Institutions etc.”