The Chinese Government has awarded N4.9 million scholarship to 49 students of the University of Abuja in commemoration of the 60th Independence anniversary of Nigeria.
The beneficiaries which comprised seven postgraduate students and 42 undergraduates were chosen on the basis of equity, gender, academic performance with one from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Zhao Yong, Charge D’ Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja who presented N100,000 cash to each beneficiary said the award was to commemorate both the country’s Independence anniversary on October 1, as well as years of friendship and bilateral relations between the two countries.
“October 1 is our joint holiday and October 1 marks the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Nigeria, as well as the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
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“Celebrating October 1st together constitutes a unique bond between China and Nigeria. I wish to express my warmest congratulations to the 49 winners who are rewarded with the October 1 awards and I hope you together with your peers will carry on China-Nigeria friendship and become goodwill ambassadors of our two people”, he said.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Abdurrasheed Na Allah, expressed gratitude to the Peoples’ Republic of China for the gesture and assured the country of the institution’s partnership.
Na Allah charged the beneficiaries to utilise the scholarship judiciously by ensuring that they excel in their academics and contribute to the development of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor while noting that the University has benefitted tremendously from the generosity of China, disclosed that the institution will soon launch a new academic programme in B. Eng Degree in railway engineering largely due to China’s support.
“As I speak today, we have received quite a number of equipment, some are still in the Apapa Port in Lagos that are coming to us, we are working with two institutions in China and these institutions have been here severally, several of our staff have also gone there for training. Recently we finished online training, so we are working together for the future of this country”, he said.
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