Nigeria has retained its position as Africa’s leading beneficiary of the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarship programme, with 89 students awarded fully funded scholarships and 163 admitted into master’s programmes across Europe this year.
The milestone was announced by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, during the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Pre-Departure Orientation in Abuja.
According to Mignot, Nigeria ranked first in Africa and among the top five countries globally for Erasmus Mundus admissions, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the United States.
“This year we have about 163 Nigerian students admitted into these master’s programmes. This places Nigeria again, like in 2024, as the top country in Africa and among the top five globally, together with Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the United States,” he said.
Of the admitted students, 89 secured the highly competitive Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarships, an increase from 81 scholarship recipients in 2025.
“We have 89 scholarship awardees this year, up from 81 in 2025,” Mignot said, adding that the programme is approaching the milestone of 1,000 Nigerian beneficiaries since the country began participating in 2014.
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme provides fully funded scholarships for postgraduate studies lasting between 12 and 24 months, enabling beneficiaries to study at a minimum of two universities in two Erasmus+ participating countries before earning a joint, double or multiple degree awarded by a consortium of leading European institutions.
Mignot said the European Union is working with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Nigerian universities to further improve the country’s global standing in the programme.
“We want Nigeria to get higher in the world ranking, to begin with in the top three. We will work for that together with the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission and Nigerian universities, and I’m sure we’ll get there,” he said.
Describing Erasmus as one of the European Union’s flagship education initiatives, the ambassador said the programme reflects the bloc’s commitment to expanding legitimate educational opportunities for young Nigerians through merit-based access to world-class universities.
“It demonstrates the readiness of the EU to offer regular migration opportunities for young Nigerians to travel and study in Europe, based on their merit, capacity and abilities. It is indeed the concrete commitment of the EU to creating opportunities for Nigerian youth,” he said.
Mignot urged the awardees to see themselves as ambassadors of Nigeria during their studies and to return home equipped with the knowledge and global networks needed to contribute to national development.
“You will be the ambassadors of Nigeria across Europe. And once you are back, we expect you to become true ambassadors of Europe in Nigeria,” he said.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the Director of the Directorate of Students, Dr. Chinelo Nwosu, commended the European Union for its sustained investment in Nigeria’s human capital development.
She urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by acquiring world-class knowledge and returning home to support the country’s development.
“Go to school, come back and continue to develop Nigeria,” she said. “Be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever you are. Work hard, stay focused, keep out of trouble and remember where you are coming from.”
Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Khadijat Liman Ahmed, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the orientation marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the scholars.
She reminded the awardees that their academic performance and conduct abroad would shape global perceptions of Nigeria.
“Your conduct, character and academic performance will shape perceptions of Nigeria and inspire future generations of scholars. Be diligent in your studies, respectful of the different cultures you will encounter, and open to new ideas and perspectives,” she said.
One of the scholarship recipients, Oluchi Yulis Myron, who will pursue graduate studies in cultural management, described the award as an opportunity to gain international education, experience diverse cultures and acquire skills that would strengthen Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries.
“I wanted an opportunity not just to study abroad, but also to experience different cultures,” she said.
