Turkey, China grant scholarships to Nigerians

The Turkish Government yesterday said that it
has decided to wave tuition fees for Nigerian
students studying in private universities in the
country before they were closed down by its
government.
The Turkish government had closed down
private universities and other establishments
operating in the country following an
attempted coup.
Also yesterday, the Chinese Government
offered scholarships to 24 Nigerians for study
in various universities in China as part of
efforts to strengthen bilateral relations
between Nigeria and China.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan
Cakil, announced Turkey’s offer when he
visited the Minister of Education, Mallam
Adamu Adamu, in his office in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the
ministry’s Deputy Director, (Press), Ben Bem-
Goong, Nigerian students in private
universities shut down in Turkey had been
moved to public schools close to the students
to enable them continue their studies.
The statement read: “Following the coup
attempt in Turkey which led to the closure of
many private Universities, Nigerian students
studying across Turkish private varsities which
have been closed down have now been moved
by the Turkish Government to public schools
in that country where they will pay very little
or no tuition fees at all.
“Cakil assured the minister that no Nigerian
student would be affected by the closure of
private schools, and that any student who
wished to return to Nigeria would be doing so
as a matter of choice.
In his response, Adamu expressed gratitude to
the Turkish government for paying special
attention to the wellbeing and safety of
Nigerian students in the country.
Mr Qin Jian, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy
of China in Nigeria, at a send-off party
organised by the embassy for the
beneficiaries yesterday in Abuja, described
education as the foundation of a nation.
Beijing, he noted, has provided 700
government scholarships to Nigerian students
since 1987. ”Two hundred and thirty seven
Nigerians are currently studying in China under
the Chinese government scholarship scheme,
apart from the self sponsored ones.”