Olufemi Adeyemi  |
| From left: LOC Chairperson, University of Lagos, Dr. Rosemary Danesi; Counselor of Public Affairs U.S. Embassy Abuja, Adnan Siddiqi; Vice Chancellor University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola and President of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria, Prof. Adele Garkida at the opening of the Fulbright Program 18th Annual Conference held at the University of Lagos. |
Stakeholders, Scholars, Policymakers and Others in Nigeria’s educational sector have proffered solutions to accessing quality education in Nigeria on April 27-28 during the 15th annual Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria conference with the theme “Improving the Quality of Higher Education: Stakeholders Engagement.”
Supported by the U.S. Mission, the conference organized in
partnership with the University of Lagos, explored best practices in promoting
access to quality education and strengthening human capital for inclusive
economic growth and development in Nigeria.
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Mission to
Nigeria, Adnan Siddiqi, congratulated the Nigerian alumni of the Fulbright
program on their accomplishments and urged them to continue applying the skills
and connections they developed in the United States to their professional
pursuits to bolster educational development in Nigeria.
“Through the Fulbright program, you cultivated long lasting
friendships with students, scholars, and community leaders in the United States
and worldwide and you returned to Nigeria to share your knowledge and ideas
with your networks in Nigeria,” he added.
Siddiqi noted that the U.S. government is committed to
supporting higher education in Nigeria through the Fulbright program by
partnering with academic, research and cultural institutions across the
country.
“International education exchanges benefit both our nations
and peoples, boosting intellectual and cross-cultural capital. Through these
academic exchanges, we contribute to high quality education, greater cultural
ties, and mutual understanding between the U.S. and the people of Nigeria,”
Siddiqi said.
Speakers including Prof. Bernard Van Wie of Washington State
University, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor at the University of
Lagos and Irene Erivwo, Director of Strategic Planning and Development at the
Tertiary Education Trust Fund discussed the importance of quality education in
a nation’s development.
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| Participants at an interactive session during the Fulbright Program 18th Annual Conference held at the University of Lagos. |
The U.S. Mission has a longstanding commitment to supporting
educational institutions and strengthening an education system that enables
students to access quality education throughout Nigeria.
One of the U.S. government-sponsored academic exchanges is
the Fulbright program which provides opportunities for Nigerian university
students and faculty members to engage in collaborative research in U.S.
institutions across various academic fields.
No fewer than 31 Nigerian universities are affiliated with
the U.S. Mission on the Fulbright program.
In recent years, Nigeria has received more than 30 scholarships annually
for university scholars including Ph.D. candidates to travel to U.S.
universities to conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding
solutions to shared global challenges. In addition, there are seven American
Fulbright scholars who are currently teaching and conducting research in
different universities across Nigeria.