The British Government has awarded 127 Nigerians the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth UK scholarships to study a “wide range” of master’s degrees and PhD programmes in 2023.

The British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery, congratulated beneficiaries who succeeded in securing a scholarship through the challenging application and interview process, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Speaking at a pre-departure reception held in Abuja, Montgomery said, “Seeing you all here is a great testimony to hard work, perseverance and resilience through a highly competitive process.

“I challenge each of you to aim for excellence in your studies, to be great ambassadors for Nigeria in the UK, and to take advantage of every opportunity during your scholarship – through growing your knowledge, enriching cultural exchange, and confident networking – and then bringing those experiences back to Nigeria and doing great things for your country while creating a positive change in this country and the world.”

Commonwealth Scholar, Michael Oyedoyin, who will study Family and Child Psychology at the University of Chester, UK, said, “I have always loved to teach, and my first degree is in Teacher Education.

“However, while teaching in schools, I observed that family issues were often the underlying cause of students’ poor academic performance and absence from school. Therefore, I chose this master’s to equip me to support my students beyond the classroom.”

Chevening Scholar, Odera Akpata, who will study International Business at the University of Warwick, UK, said, “Reflecting on my last two applications, I am assured that great things happen to those who never give up”.

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to individuals who demonstrate intellectual ability, leadership potential and a commitment to the development of their home country.

The Chevening Scholarship, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has offered 44 Nigerian students fully-funded scholarships to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK.

The recipients were selected from a pool of over 14,000 applications in Nigeria and more than 62,000 applications across the globe. Approximately 1,500 alumni have benefitted from the Chevening scholarship in Nigeria.