Germany increases slots to Nigerians, others

The new Consul-General of the Consulate-General of Germany in Lagos, Mr Ingo Herbert, on Tuesday announced his government’s decision to increase scholarships for Nigerians and other Africans.

Herbert told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his government had at its recent bilateral meeting decided to increase its annual scholarships from 450 to "a more reasonable number”.

"Before now about 450 Nigerians benefit every year from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

"But from our recent bilateral meeting, the German government has decided to increase its annual scholarships to Nigeria and other countries from 450 to a much more reasonable number,’’ he said.

Herbert said that the initiative was part of the German’s human development agenda aimed at giving more Africans opportunities to go and study in different German educational institutions.

The envoy also said that it had become imperative to increase the scholarships following the growing interest of Nigerians and other African in studying in Germany.

The consul-general said that German universities and colleges had started courses in English Language so as to be able to accommodate more Nigerians.

He restated his government’s commitment to encouraging and creating the right learning environment for the would be beneficiaries of the scholarships.

Herbert also expressed satisfaction with the successes currently being made by some Nigerians that had benefited from the scholarships in the past in their professions.