Nigerian recipients of the UK’s Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships were celebrated at a welcome event held at the British residence in Lagos on Friday.
The scholars had recently completed their studies in the United Kingdom.
The Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside partner organizations, offer financial support for postgraduate studies, particularly one-year master’s degrees.
These programmes target individuals showing potential to become leaders and decision-makers in their home countries.
Johnny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, addressed the scholars during the ceremony.
He encouraged them to use the knowledge and skills they gained to bring positive changes to their communities.
Boma Adebowale, a representative of the Chevening program in Lagos, shared that the scholars came from diverse fields, stressing the program’s goal of inclusivity.
She noted that Chevening alumni number over 55,000 worldwide, while the Commonwealth program has 31,000 alumni globally and 3,000 in Nigeria.
The event also saw personal testimonies from beneficiaries like Tolulope Ami-Williams, who studied contemporary performance art at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Daniel Onwe, who pursued international law and development at the University of Nottingham.
Both expressed gratitude for the opportunities the scholarships provided and the career growth they expect as a result.
Since its launch in 1984, over 1,500 Nigerians have benefited from the Chevening programme.