The British Government has awarded 82 Nigerians the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships for the 2024 academic year.

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The scholarships will enable the recipients to pursue a variety of master’s degrees and PhD programs in the United Kingdom.

This year, 32 Nigerians were selected for the Chevening scholarship, while 50 others were awarded the Commonwealth scholarship.

A pre-departure ceremony was held in Abuja yesterday for the selected scholars based in the city and its environs.

A similar ceremony will be hosted next week in Lagos by the Deputy Head of Mission, Abby Bernard, for scholars in Lagos and nearby cities.

At the Abuja reception, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Gill Lever, congratulated the scholars for successfully navigating the highly competitive application and interview process.

She stressed the UK’s commitment to supporting the educational development of Nigerians and maintaining transparency and inclusivity in the selection process.

Mrs. Lever encouraged the recipients to aim for excellence, stating, “The UK continues to support the educational development of Nigerians and remain transparent and inclusive in the selection process across the board.

“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.”

Idowu Akintade, Director of Operations at the British Council Nigeria, also addressed the scholars, expressing hope that the skills and knowledge gained through the scholarships would help them contribute positively to Nigeria’s development priorities.

He urged them to build strong networks and continue to represent the Commonwealth and Chevening Scholarships with distinction.