Eighty-five Nigerians have been awarded the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships to pursue master’s and doctoral programmes in the United Kingdom in 2025.
This year’s cohort includes 39 Chevening scholars, one Chevening fellow, and 45 Commonwealth scholars. A pre-departure reception was held in Abuja for recipients from the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states, while a similar event is scheduled for Lagos in September.
Speaking at the Abuja ceremony, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, congratulated the recipients for excelling in the highly competitive selection process. She described the awardees as ambassadors of Nigeria and the UK, noting that their experiences abroad would contribute to positive change at home.
“We are proud to see another batch of scholars depart over the next few weeks,” she said. “They will return with insights into UK systems, policies, and society, and use these experiences to create impact in Nigeria and beyond.”
Director of Programmes at the British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, urged the scholars to view their studies as an opportunity to build skills and networks that will support Nigeria’s development.
Some recipients also shared their excitement. Chevening fellow Tijjanni Mukaddas, heading to Oxford University’s Centre for Islamic Studies, said he hoped to design policies that address educational access for millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Commonwealth scholar Cynthia Okoli, who will study at the Royal Veterinary College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, expressed eagerness to gain multidisciplinary skills and networks to advance her field.
The UK government said the scholarships reaffirm its commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria through education, leadership, and knowledge exchange.
