By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigeria has retained its position as Africa’s leading beneficiary of the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarship programme, with 89 students awarded fully funded scholarships for the 2026 academic cycle.
The announcement was made at the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Pre-Departure Orientation in Abuja, where the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said another 163 Nigerians secured admission into Erasmus Mundus master’s programmes, placing the country among the top five globally for admissions.
He said the figures reflected Nigeria’s continued strong performance in one of the world’s most competitive international postgraduate scholarship schemes.
Mignot disclosed that the number of Nigerian scholarship beneficiaries rose from 81 in 2025 to 89 this year, adding that nearly 1,000 Nigerians have benefited from the programme since 2014.
“The latest figures underscore Nigeria’s strong performance in one of the world’s most competitive international postgraduate scholarship schemes,” he said.
According to the ambassador, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme allows beneficiaries to study in at least two European universities over a period of 12 to 24 months before earning joint, double or multiple degrees awarded by partner institutions.
He said the European Union would continue to partner with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Nigerian universities to widen access to international education and strengthen Nigeria’s global academic competitiveness.
Describing the scholarship as a strategic platform for expanding educational cooperation between Europe and Nigeria, Mignot said it provides outstanding young Nigerians with advanced knowledge, international exposure and cross-cultural experience.
He urged the beneficiaries to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and apply the knowledge and skills acquired abroad to national development on completing their studies.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the Director of the Directorate of Students, Dr. Chinelo Nwosu, commended the European Union for its sustained investment in higher education and human capital development in Nigeria.
She encouraged the scholars to remain focused on their studies and return home to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Liman K.A.A., described the orientation programme as a critical step in preparing the students for academic and social life abroad.
She urged the beneficiaries to uphold Nigeria’s image through academic excellence, discipline and exemplary conduct.
One of the awardees, Oluchi Yulis Myron, said the scholarship would enable her to pursue graduate studies in cultural management while gaining practical exposure to global best practices in heritage preservation.
She expressed confidence that the experience would equip her with the expertise and international networks needed to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s creative and cultural sectors.
The pre-departure orientation brought together scholarship recipients, prospective applicants, Erasmus alumni, representatives of government education agencies, European Union member states and other stakeholders ahead of the students’ academic programmes across Europe.
