Britain has granted scholarships to 68 Nigerian students to pursue master’s and doctoral studies at UK universities during the 2026/2027 academic year, the British High Commission said this week.
Of the total, 12 students received the highly competitive Chevening award, while 56 were named Commonwealth scholars, with several more Commonwealth awards still expected to be confirmed. The recipients were honored at pre-departure ceremonies held in Abuja and Lagos ahead of their travel.
Vicky Seymour, Chargée d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Abuja, told the gathered scholars that the funding represented an investment both in them individually and in Nigeria’s broader development, and encouraged them to bring back what they learn to contribute to the country after graduating.
Among those honored was Sarah Nathaniel Yanayork, who will pursue a master’s in International Human Rights Law at the University of Essex, and who described securing the scholarship as the payoff of years of sustained effort. Also recognized was Abubakar Umar, a Commonwealth scholar heading to the University of Exeter to study special educational needs, who said the award carried particular meaning to him as someone with a hearing impairment, calling the experience proof of how inclusive the selection process had been from application through to acceptance.
Nigeria has built up a substantial base of Chevening and Commonwealth alumni over the years, with more than 5,000 former scholars now working across the country in various fields.
