NIGERIAN SCHOLARSHIP: Australia Government awards scholarship to 9 Nigerians

Australia has awarded scholarship to nine Nigerians and one Cameroonian for post-graduate and masters studies in Australia in an attempt to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.
Speaking yesterday at his residence in Abuja, Australian ambassador to Nigeria, Ian McConvile, said the programme was aimed at providing people with the knowledge and skills to promote development in their home country.

He said the average cost of the Australia awards (Australian Development Scholarships) is Au$ 50,000 per year per student, but final costing will depend on the specific award granted and the length of the study course provided. He also said that the average cost for a two-year Masters Degree award is Au$100,000.
“We received more than 2,000 application and more than 200 wrote the exams and 10 won the award. The main priority sectors include: Public Policy; Agriculture/Food Security; Natural Resource Management; Health; Water and Sanitation. Students are required to return to their country of citizenship after the completion of their awards to contribute to the development of the identified priority sectors in their country,” he stated.

The awardees from Nigeria are: Umar Yahaya, Adepoju Rasheed, Okagbare Rita, Nma Baba Tailor, Abdulhamid Adamu Gwaram, Ogunsakin Akintunde Aliu, Winnie Emeka-Okolie, Ayodele Olawumi, while the Cameroonian is Njume Peter.

“In 2011, the ADS Program in Africa will provide both long awards (ADS) and short-term Fellowship awards to nationals from 25 countries across Africa. The Australian government has approved the 42 universities that are participating in the ADS programme, so that students can be confident they will receive the same high quality education at whichever institution they choose. And Australia is currently finalising the selection of up to 250 African candidates for the 2011 scholarship intake to study in Australia,” he said.

McConvile added that the Australian government currently invests over $200 million each year in international scholarships which, at any time, supports around 5000 international students, researchers and professionals to study in Australia and for Australians to study, research and undertake professional development overseas.

One of the awardees, Umar Yahaya, a staff of MDGs office, said: “I was picked from my office and I went to Accra to write the exams. I was selected out of many. I thank the Australian government and my office for giving me the chance to participate in the programme.”