FG begins Commonwealth scholarship interviews for 2,000 Nigerians

Attendees at the opening ceremony of the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarship Nomination Interviews in Abuja. CREDIT: Education Ministry

The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, with more than 2,000 Nigerian applicants participating in nomination interviews.

The interviews began at the opening ceremony of the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarship Nomination Interviews in Abuja on Monday.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday and signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

PUNCH Online reports that the nomination interview is a face-to-face assessment in which a national panel evaluates shortlisted applicants and selects the strongest candidates for recommendation to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for final consideration for awards. The interviews will be conducted across the six geopolitical zones.

Speaking at the event, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, said the scholarship was a strategic investment in human capital development and an opportunity to build expertise needed to address critical national challenges.

She identified academic merit, the quality of proposed study plans and their potential developmental impact as the three fundamental selection criteria.

She said, “Candidates must demonstrate not only outstanding academic records but also how their proposed programmes would translate into practical solutions and contribute to national development.”

Olatunji-David urged the interview panel, comprising professors, scholars and retired directors in the education sector, to uphold fairness, objectivity and professionalism.

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She also urged the panel to align the selection process with Nigeria’s development priorities, particularly the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad.

According to her, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, established in 1959, had produced more than 30,000 beneficiaries globally, including Nigerians who had contributed significantly to national development, particularly in tertiary education.

Acknowledging the limited number of available awards, Olatunji-David urged applicants to approach the interviews with confidence, discipline and focus.

Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards, Mrs Khadijat Liman, disclosed that “over 2,000 applications were received through the Electronic Application System (EAS), reflecting growing Nigerian interest in international postgraduate opportunities.”

She said the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom had invited the department to nominate qualified Nigerian candidates, adding that the ministry was committed to presenting outstanding scholars who would sustain Nigeria’s reputation in the scholarship programme.

Liman disclosed that 56 Nigerian Commonwealth Master’s and PhD scholars commenced their academic programmes in the UK in September 2026.

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan provides opportunities for international academic exchange, advanced research, leadership development and knowledge transfer among Commonwealth countries.