Twelve (12) Nigerian lecturers from public tertiary institutions have been awarded scholarships by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, to undertake doctoral, PhD, studies on science-related disciplines in France, under the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff Intervention, TSAS, programme.
Speaking at a pre-departure briefing of the scholars in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, said the event flagged off the implementation of the agreement between TETFund and Campus France reached in April of 2023. Echono, who disclosed that the fund has trained nearly 40,000 Nigerian academics in postgraduate studies, locally and internationally, said the TSAS is aimed at providing financial assistance to lecturers of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions pursuing postgraduate studies.
The TETfund boss disclosed that the sum of N63,457,600.40 or €77,862.16 was approved in favor of each scholar for the 3-year duration of the programme, which amounts to a total of 761,491,924.80 or € 934,345.92 for the 12 approved scholars.
He added that the funds would be disbursed to each beneficiary in line with the provisions of the agreement with the Campus France which was reached on Tuesday, 18th April, 2023. “The sum of N63,457,600.40 (€ 77,862.16) was approved in favour of each scholar for the Three (3) year duration of the programme, which amounts to a total of 761,491,924.80 (€ 934,345.92) in favour of the 12 approved scholars which would be disbursed to each beneficiary in line with the provisions of the agreement,” he said.
While stating that the 12 scholars were approved by the management of TETFund from 8 beneficiary institutions, he said this approval was Cohort 1 and was sequel to the call for presentation of eligible prospective scholars earlier communicated to all TETFund beneficiary institutions.
“The Successful prospective scholars would be undertaking various postgraduate programmes of National Priority at the underlisted Universities in France: Universite Paris -Est Creteil (UPEC), France: 3 scholars, University of Strasbourgh, Paris, France: 1 scholar; Universite De Lorraine (L.G.IPM), France: 2 scholars; Universite Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, France: 3 scholars; Universite Lyon 2, France: 1 scholar; Cancer Research Center of Lyon, France: 1 scholar and Institut Superieur D’Electronique de Paris: 1 scholar,” he said.
Echono charged the scholars to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and take full advantage of the opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research projects, work with world-renowned researchers and have access to state-of-the-art research facilities.
On her part, the Manager of Campus France, Nigeria, Laura Moras, expressed delight at the swift operation of the agreement, stating that both parties started managing its implementation in August.
Moras, in a presentation, provided orientation to the scholars on what to do before and after arrival in France, urging them to ensure all original documents to be used for traveling, accommodation and others were handy.
“You have to possess your passports, your visas; you have to possess your admission letter, your accommodation paper. Don’t forget to bring ID photos and translate your birth certificate; you can do that at the French institute in Abuja or the French alliance,” she said.
Ugochi Olivia Ubah is an Educator and a Writer
