Omoregie Tina, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on Tuesday flagged off 2021/2022 Commonwealth Scholarship.
He said applications shall be graded based on academic merit, quality of research proposal and development impact on completion of the study as PhD candidates.
Adamu who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Arch Sonny Echono, he stated that, since the inception of the scholarship award in 1959, more than 30,000 scholars have benefited and majority of the award holders from Nigeria have returned to make significant contributions to the development of the nation, mostly in the tertiary institutions.
“To this end, the Commission’s mandatory regulation for scholars is to acquire the requisite knowledge as well as skills, and return to their respective home countries at the end of the award period to make meaningful impact in their various fields of study to achieve multiplier effect,” he said.
He explained that “it is in the realization of this objective, that the CSC adopted a scholarship policy aimed at ensuring greater and equitable access to higher education by a greater number of qualified citizens of the Commonwealth member nations.”
He noted that the Commonwealth selection criteria give high priority to applicants that demonstrate the strongest relevance to national development.
In her remark, the director, federal scholarship board, Hajiya Ndajiwo Hammanjoda said the awards are very limited in number this year compared to other years due to COVID-19.
“This year, approximately three hundred and fifty (350) candidates applied through the Electronic Application System (EAS). The value of the award per awardee depends on the field of specialization and it is adjudged to be sufficient, with provision to spouses if indicated, thus makes the award scheme the most competitive and prestigious in the world.
“It is important to note that the grading score of applicants this year is based on Academic Merit, Quality of Research Proposal and Development Impact on completion of the study.”
She said, “336 offers were made to the 54 Commonwealth countries with an average of six per country. Last year, 4,424 candidates applied through the Electronics Application System (EAS). Nigeria received a total of 24 awards, due to the high quality of candidates’ presented.”