900 Nigerians are on Australia scholarship, says envoy

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

More than 900 Nigerians are currently enrolled in Australian University and Vocation Education Programmes, through the Australia Award Programme.

The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria,

Jonathan Richardson disclosed this at the launching of the North-West and North-East of the Australia Alumni Association, held in Kaduna recently.

Richardson, said countdown to end of May 2014 showed that the 900 students in that year doubled the number in 2013, making Australia the country with the third highest number of the international students, behind United Kingdom and United States.

Speaking on the award programme, the High Commissioner, who was represented by Mr. Matthew Mechan said the project offer scholarship for post-graduates studies as well as opportunity for short- term professional development opportunities to citizens of developing countries.

“The aim is to provide enhanced leadership, knowledge and technical skills to partner government, tertiary institution and organization in order to help drive sustainable development.

According to him, “Australia Award covers a wide range of areas, but is focusing on disciplines relevant to building government capacity; including griculture/Food security, extractive industry sector, infrastructure, health and public policy” n her own remark, the coordinator of the North-West and North-East Australia Alumni, Hajia Zainab Mohammed said the Alumni Network in Nigeria and other African countries have grown out of the Australia Award Programme, which offers short- term study and professional development opportunities to citizens of developing country.

Hajiya Zainab, further said that the establishment of the alumni association is to building influence and to facilitate contact between alumni and Australia organization or individual to pursue goals and objectives.