A total of 83 Nigerian students, recipients of Moroccan scholarships under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) for the 2023/2024 academic session, are set to depart Nigeria on November 23 and 24, 2023. The departure was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mammam, during a pre-departure briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
The scholars, who completed the Mandatory Nine (9) Months French Language Training Programme at various “Alliance Francaise” centres in Nigeria for the 2022/2023 academic year, are now fully prepared for their main academic courses in Morocco for the upcoming academic session.
Minister Mammam encouraged the departing students to make their parents and Nigeria proud by being worthy ambassadors during their studies in Morocco. He congratulated the parents and teachers for instilling the values and knowledge that qualified the students for the scholarship.
The Minister highlighted the scholarship program as part of a broader initiative to deepen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, providing support to brilliant Nigerians, especially those unable to afford programs not readily available in Nigeria. Despite global economic challenges, Nigeria has seen an increase in the number of development partners offering scholarships, including countries like Hungary, China, Russia, Algeria, Romania, Morocco, Serbia, Mexico, Egypt, and Venezuela.
Minister Mammam urged the departing scholars not to see the opportunity as mere freedom but to maintain discipline and avoid actions that could bring disgrace to Nigeria.