FG, EU deepen ties on education through €570m Erasmus+ programme

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening educational collaboration with the European Union (EU) under the €570 million Erasmus+ Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing education, innovation, and human capital development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Maruf Tunji Alausa, minister of Education, stated this in a post on the ministry’s official X handle, noting that the Erasmus+ Programme represents a transformative platform aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to quality higher education and global learning opportunities for Nigerian students and academics.

Alausa emphasised that Nigeria’s participation in the Erasmus+ Programme has continued to yield tangible benefits since joining in 2021, with over 500 Nigerian students, researchers, and lecturers having benefited from scholarships and academic exchange opportunities in leading European universities.

According to him, the Ministry of Education is working closely with the EU and relevant stakeholders to broaden participation nationwide, ensuring that more Nigerians, particularly those in underserved regions can access international learning opportunities that foster innovation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Zissimos Vergos, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting education, youth empowerment, and research partnerships in Nigeria.

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He highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in 11 ongoing Erasmus+ projects focused on STEM education, digital skills, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity building, d0escribing them as crucial to Africa’s knowledge-driven future.