89 Nigerians Secure Fully Funded Study Programme Under EU’s Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
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Innocent Oweh
No fewer than 89 students from Nigeria have secured a fully funded study scheme, under the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarship programme.
About 163 Nigerian students were admitted this year including the 89 persons who secured the fully funded programme. Nigerian students have always been leading beneficiary within the African continent.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, made the disclosure during the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Pre-Departure Orientation in Abuja.
The event brought together scholarship awardees, prospective applicants, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, education agencies, EU Member States and Erasmus alumni to prepare scholars for their academic journey across Europe.
Mignot congratulated all Nigerian students admitted to pursue master’s studies across Europe over the next 12 to 24 months.
He said those who secured the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarships scaled through one of the world’s most competitive international scholarship programmes.
“The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme provides fully funded scholarships for postgraduate study, enabling students to undertake master’s degrees over 12 to 24 months in at least two universities across two Erasmus+ participating countries. The programme culminates in a joint, double or multiple degree awarded by a consortium of leading European universities.
“This year we have about 163 Nigerian students admitted into these master’s programmes. This places Nigeria again, like in 2024, as the top country in Africa and among the top five globally, together with Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the United States,” he said.
According to Mignot, Nigerians have benefited from Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarships since 2014 and the programme is approaching the milestone of 1,000 Nigerian scholarship recipients.
“We have 89 scholarship awardees this year, up from 81 in 2025,” he said.
He added that the European Union is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission and Nigerian universities to further strengthen Nigeria’s global standing.
“We want Nigeria to get higher in the world ranking, to begin with in the top three. We will work for that together with the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission and Nigerian universities, and I’m sure we’ll get there.”
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, Dr Chinelo Nwosu, Director of the Directorate of Students, commended the European Union for its continued investment in Nigeria’s human capital development through the Erasmus Mundus scholarship programme.
She urged the awardees to use the opportunity to acquire world-class knowledge and skills before returning home to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
“Go to school, come back and continue to develop Nigeria,” she said. “Be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever you are. Work hard, stay focused, keep out of trouble and remember where you are coming from.”
On her part, Mrs Liman K.A.A., Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, described the orientation as “much more than a farewell gathering”, saying it celebrated excellence, opportunity and the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the European Union in advancing education, research, innovation and human development.
She lauded the European Union, its Member States, participating universities and partners for their continued investment in education, noting that the programme had transformed the lives of thousands of young Nigerians.
“Your conduct, character and academic performance will shape perceptions of Nigeria and inspire future generations of scholars,” she said. “Be diligent in your studies, respectful of the different cultures you will encounter, and open to new ideas and perspectives.”
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