At least 200 Nigerians have been awarded postgraduate scholarships by the European Union (EU) to study in the best European universities under the Erasmus+ programme.

EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, said this at the send-forth for the students on Wednesday in Abuja.

The ambassador said Nigeria was ranked second after Pakistan among the countries benefiting from the programme.

Erasmus Plus scholarship is an initiative of the EU to enhance quality higher education through scholarships and academic cooperation between the union and the rest of the world.

Ms Isopi said there were an increasing number of Nigerian students who received scholarships compared to 2021.

“In the last four years, there had been a quadrupling in terms of the number of Nigerians selected for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships.

”The number increased in 2019 from 44 winners to 93 in 2020, 133 in 2021, and a record number of more than 200 were awarded this year.”

She said during their stay for the period, they would have the opportunity to visit up to six countries across Europe, saying that the potential of Nigeria was very high in the scholarship.

“The programme is aimed at connecting and uniting young people across Europe and across the globe.

“To build a new generation of words citizens, keen to work together for peace, for prosperity and for the common good.

”So, this year, we celebrate these achievements, but also to further boost our cooperation with Nigeria,” she said.

The deputy executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki,  said the event was a groundbreaking achievement and a proud moment for Nigeria as the second country with the most cut in a single year.

He commended the EU for its tremendous support and contributions in generating, disseminating and expanding the frontiers of knowledge into developing Nigerian manpower.

Also, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, thanked the EU delegation and the ECOWAS for organising the event for Nigerian students while congratulating the successful awardees.

(NAN)