No fewer than 54 students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have been awarded scholarship to study in China.
Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, the Vice Chancellor of the university, announced the scholarship at the send off ceremony of the awardees in Awka on Monday.
Ahaneku said the scholarship was part of the exchange between Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Chinese Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award was given under the auspices of the Institute to study Chinese programmes in different institutions in that country.
Ahaneku said that the Institute would continue to promote cultural and educational exchanges between China and Nigeria, as well as strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples.
“The main mission of Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is Chinese Language teaching and training in Nigeria, and provision of consultative services on Chinese culture and educational opportunities in China,” he said.
According to him, the Institute exists only in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Lagos but “due to our tireless efforts, a new one is being developed at Bayero University, Kano.
He charged the students to be diligent and be good ambassadors of the university while in China ranging for a period one and four years.
He said that three of the awardees were sponsored by the Chinese Government while the rest were sponsored by Institute.
He also said that the participants were expected to depart for China in about a week’s time. (NAN)