Mr Ingo Herbert, the new Head of the Consulate-General of German Embassy in Lagos, on Tuesday announced his government’s decision to increase scholarships for Nigerians and other Africans to study in Germany.
Herbert told newsmen in Lagos that his government had at its recent bilateral meeting decided to increase its annual scholarships from 450 to “a more reasonable number”. He did not specify what the new, reasonable number is.
“Before now, about 450 Nigerians benefit every year from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). “But from our recent bilateral meeting, the German government has decided to increase its annual scholarships to Nigeria and other countries from 450 to a much more reasonable number,’’ he said.
Herbert said that the initiative was part of Germany’s human development agenda aimed at giving more Africans opportunities to go and study in different German educational institutions.
The envoy also said that it has become imperative to increase the scholarships following the growing interest of Nigerians and other Africans in studying in Germany.
“We have realised that after U.S. and U.K., most Nigerians and other foreign students like coming to study in Germany,’’ he said.
The consul-general said that German universities and colleges have started courses in English Language so as to be able to accommodate more Nigerians.
Moreover, he restated his government’s commitment to encouraging and creating the right learning environment for the would-be beneficiaries of the scholarships.
Herbert also expressed satisfaction with the successes currently being made by some Nigerians who have benefited from the scholarships in the past in their professions.
-Vanguard