The Kano State government has appealed to the European Union (EU) to consider the issue of cost and affordability of its education programmes for Nigerian students.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, made the appeal while speaking as a guest of honour at the occasion of Study – in – Europe Fair which took Thursday in the state capital.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, recalled that Europe had historically been a destination of study for the people of the state but added that the trend was reversed in past due to the high cost of funding education programmes in European universities.
The Governor, who acknowledged that the government and people of the state were still desirous of sending their wards to Europe for further studies, however offered that both parties must sit down to work out a cost effective option to revive the old tradition.
Yusuf urged the European Union to intervene in the education initiative of the state while assuring of the readiness of his administration to support the efforts of Union in the sector.
In her remarks, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuella Isopi enjoined students in Nigeria to take advantage of their flagship programmes which have offered exciting opportunities, including oversea scholarships, to Nigerians .
She recalled that in the last decade alone, a total of 800 brilliant Nigerian students were awarded scholarships under the Erasmus programme ,which is one of the two flagship initiatives of the Union.
She stressed that beyond educational opportunities to young Nigerians, the Fair provides cooperation between universities and higher educational institutions of Europe and Nigeria.
“This initiative today is not an encouragement to Jaba, but an opportunity to develop and use the skills you will develop in Europe to the benefit of your society and the benefit of your country,” she added. End.