Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria has once again emerged as Africa's leading beneficiary of the European Union's Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarship programme, with 163 Nigerian students admitted this year and 89 securing fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarships.
The milestone was announced by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, during the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Pre-Departure Orientation in Abuja. The event brought together scholarship awardees, prospective applicants, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, education agencies, EU Member States and Erasmus alumni to prepare scholars for their academic journey across Europe.
Congratulating the participants, Ambassador Mignot extended his congratulations to all Nigerian students admitted to pursue master's studies across Europe over the next 12 to 24 months, while paying special tribute to those who secured Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships through one of the world's most competitive international scholarship programmes.
He also welcomed prospective applicants attending the orientation, encouraging them to learn more about the Erasmus programme and prepare for the next application cycle, expected to open at the end of October.
The Ambassador explained that the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programme provides fully funded scholarships for postgraduate study, enabling students to undertake master's degrees over 12 to 24 months in at least two universities across two Erasmus+ participating countries. The programme culminates in a joint, double or multiple degree awarded by a consortium of leading European universities.
"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.
Ambassador Mignot noted that Nigerians have benefited from Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships since 2014 and that the programme is approaching the milestone of 1,000 Nigerian scholarship recipients.
"We have 89 scholarship awardees this year, up from 81 in 2025," he said.
He added that the European Union is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission and Nigerian universities to further strengthen Nigeria's global standing.
"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."
Describing Erasmus as the European Union's most successful initiative supporting education and people-to-people and youth-to-youth exchanges, Ambassador Mignot said the programme demonstrates the EU's commitment to creating opportunities for young Nigerians through merit-based access to world-class higher education.
"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.
Highlighting the transformative nature of the scholarship, Ambassador Mignot said Erasmus alumni consistently describe the programme as a life-changing experience, offering scholars the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, build lifelong international friendships and become "citizens of the world".
He reminded the awardees that the privilege of receiving an Erasmus scholarship also carries responsibility.
Describing them as a fortunate few in a country where millions of young people aspire to similar opportunities, he expressed hope that the experience would not only help them grow personally but also strengthen their sense of service to Nigeria and their commitment to supporting others.
"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 (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, Dr Chinelo Nwosu, Director of the Directorate of Students, commended the European Union for its continued investment in Nigeria's human capital development through the Erasmus Mundus scholarship programme.
She urged the awardees to use the opportunity to acquire world-class knowledge and skills before returning home to contribute to Nigeria'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, Mrs Liman K.A.A., Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, described the orientation as "much more than a farewell gathering", saying it celebrated excellence, opportunity and the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the European Union in advancing education, research, innovation and human development.
She thanked the European Union, its Member States, participating universities and partners for their continued investment in education, noting that the programme had transformed the lives of thousands of young Nigerians.
"Your conduct, character and academic performance will shape perceptions of Nigeria and inspire future generations of scholars," she said. "Be diligent in your studies, respectful of the different cultures you will encounter, and open to new ideas and perspectives."
Among this year's scholarship recipients is Oluchi Yulis Myron, who will pursue graduate studies in cultural management. She described the scholarship as an opportunity not only to earn an international degree but also to experience different cultures and build expertise that can strengthen Nigeria's creative and cultural industries.
"I wanted an opportunity not just to study abroad, but also to experience different cultures," she said. "One of the most exciting aspects of Erasmus Mundus is the mobility. You get to travel, meet new people, experience different cultures and even learn new languages."
Oluchi said the strength of her application lay in demonstrating how her academic background, professional experience and long-term ambitions aligned with the programme.
"My motivation letter allowed me to communicate my passion, my experiences and my vision for the future. I think that was what made my application stand out."
She is particularly looking forward to learning from museums, cultural institutions and heritage experts across Europe while building international professional networks.
"I'm looking forward to understanding global best practices in heritage preservation and exploring how those ideas can be adapted to strengthen cultural preservation in Nigeria."
After completing the programme, she hopes to pursue a PhD before returning to Nigeria to establish a business focused on cultural management and heritage preservation.
Her aspirations reflect the central message of the pre-departure orientation: that the Erasmus Mundus scholarship is not only an investment in individual academic excellence but also in Nigeria's future through a new generation of globally minded leaders committed to national development.
Concluding the event, Ambassador Mignot thanked the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, EU Member States and other partners for their continued collaboration in expanding access to international education opportunities.
"Nigerians are among the best students in the world and European universities are keen to welcome them," he said.
