Nordic countries provide fresh education pathway for Nigeria, other African countries – Ministers
The Nordic countries have provided a fresh education pathway for the teeming Nigerian youths, The Nation learnt.
This was disclosed at a media parley during the two day visit of the five Nordic ministers in Abuja.
The Ministers are Mr Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ms Bjørg Sandkjær, State Secretary for International Development, Norway, Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Denmark and Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen.
Denmark’s Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, said her country plan to unfold a new education strategy for Nigeria and other African countries.
He said the new programme would be unveiled later this month.
The under Secretary said the new initiative will create more exchange opportunities for students from Nigeria and other African countries.
She said on Education, “It’s something to which we attach great importance in the Nordic group, but specifically also in the new Africa strategy, which would be announced later on this month.
“We are, in fact, looking at how we can create more exchange opportunities for African students from Nigeria, and in general, just to enhance our cultural cooperation, because we believe that there are certainly mutual benefits to cultural exchanges, to get more students to Denmark to participate in our educational systems, and then bring that experience back to their own country.
On his part, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mr Tobias Billström said his country offers scholarships to students who would want to study in Sweden irrespective of their background.
He, however, said the opening is based on merit.
He said: “Sweden offers scholarships with our universities for students who have the ability and the merits to come and study at Swedish universities.
” We believe, just as my colleagues have already stated, that this collaboration is essential because talent can be found everywhere in the world, and we should, of course, be open to that as well.
“Academic merits are something which should be counted equally, regardless of where they come from.”
The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen on her part expressed joy over the increase in student visa applications from Nigeria.
Valtonen said her country is open and welcoming to students.
She said: “When it comes to education, indeed, I guess all of us in the Nordics pride ourselves of focusing very much on human capital and education, since in order to thrive and prosper, we not only need stability and trust in our societies, but we also need the possibility for each and every individual, independent of where he or she comes from.
“The ability to thrive in her life based on education and the ability to work and be an entrepreneur.
“And indeed, just today I had the chance to meet with the Finnish embassy staff here, and I was very intrigued by the number, by the growing number of student visa applications and work permit applications that Nigerians and other people in the region are putting through our embassy and consular services.
“And we are obviously very glad for the interest, and we are processing each and every application with the thoroughness it needs.
“ And we are very open and welcoming to new talents, to Finland. And of course, also from the point of view that we know that it’s very beneficial for people to perhaps study elsewhere and maybe return someday to build Nigeria’s future as well.”
The Nordic countries have provided a fresh education pathway for the teeming Nigerian youths.
This was disclosed at a media parley during the two day visit of the five Nordic ministers in Abuja.
The Ministers are Mr Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ms Bjørg Sandkjær, State Secretary for International Development, Norway, Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Denmark and Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen.
Denmark’s Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, said her country plan to unfold a new education strategy for Nigeria and other African countries.
He said the new programme would be unveiled later this month.
The under Secretary said the new initiative will create more exchange opportunities for students from Nigeria and other African countries.
She said on Education, “It’s something to which we attach great importance in the Nordic group, but specifically also in the new Africa strategy, which would be announced later on this month.
“We are, in fact, looking at how we can create more exchange opportunities for African students from Nigeria, and in general, just to enhance our cultural cooperation, because we believe that there are certainly mutual benefits to cultural exchanges, to get more students to Denmark to participate in our educational systems, and then bring that experience back to their own country.
On his part, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mr Tobias Billström said his country offers scholarships to students who would want to study in Sweden irrespective of their background.
He, however, said the opening is based on merit.
He said: “Sweden offers scholarships with our universities for students who have the ability and the merits to come and study at Swedish universities.
” We believe, just as my colleagues have already stated, that this collaboration is essential because talent can be found everywhere in the world, and we should, of course, be open to that as well.
“Academic merits are something which should be counted equally, regardless of where they come from.”
The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen on her part expressed joy over the increase in student visa applications from Nigeria.
Valtonen said her country is open and welcoming to students.
She said: “When it comes to education, indeed, I guess all of us in the Nordics pride ourselves of focusing very much on human capital and education, since in order to thrive and prosper, we not only need stability and trust in our societies, but we also need the possibility for each and every individual, independent of where he or she comes from.
“The ability to thrive in her life based on education and the ability to work and be an entrepreneur.
“And indeed, just today I had the chance to meet with the Finnish embassy staff here, and I was very intrigued by the number, by the growing number of student visa applications and work permit applications that Nigerians and other people in the region are putting through our embassy and consular services.
“And we are obviously very glad for the interest, and we are processing each and every application with the thoroughness it needs.
“ And we are very open and welcoming to new talents, to Finland. And of course, also from the point of view that we know that it’s very beneficial for people to perhaps study elsewhere and maybe return someday to build Nigeria’s future as well.”
