EU grants €1.8M each to six Nigerian universities for green, digital skills development

The European Union has allocated €1.8 million each to six Nigerian universities for projects focused on developing high-level green and digital skills.

This funding, part of the EU-funded Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme, aims to enhance learning mobility opportunities for students, trainees, and staff across the continent.

The announcement was made by Folosade Boriwo, Director of Press & Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, following an agreement signed by Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, at the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in Brussels, Belgium.

The selected Nigerian universities include the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Port-Harcourt, Ebonyi State University, and two others. They are among 15 institutions benefiting from the Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme Projects funded by the EU, with a total of €27 million allocated under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa initiative.

Projects funded by the EU include the CB4EE and GREEN STEM projects at the University of Lagos, the CREATE-Green Africa project at the University of Port-Harcourt, and the GENES II and ORPHAN projects at Ebonyi State University.

These initiatives aim to advance education and skill development in Africa by focusing on green and digital skills.

The EU Commissioner for International Partnership, Commissioner Urpilainen, launched the Africa-Europe Youth Academy during the event in Brussels.

The academy is part of the Youth Action Plan in EU external relations and aims to offer opportunities for formal and informal learning and exchanges between young people in Africa and Europe.

Additionally, Nigeria will benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-Driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training in Africa.

This initiative focuses on aligning vocational training programs with employment opportunities generated by Global Gateway investments, demonstrating the EU’s commitment to supporting skills development and education in Africa.