Heirs Energies, Nigeria’s leading indigenous integrated energy company, hosted a strategic media parley on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Heirs Towers on Victoria Island, Lagos. The interactive session brought together over 50 journalists from top-tier energy and business publications, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to foster transparency and strengthen industry-media relations.
In his remarks, Sam Nwanze, Heirs Energies’ Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, who delivered a presentation titled “The Heirs Energies Story: From Vision to Impact”, provided deep insights into the company’s founding vision, operational transformation, and its rapidly expanding role in Nigeria’s energy landscape.
Sam Nwanze, Heirs Energies Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, addressing journalists during the media parley in Lagos
A key highlight of the session was Heirs Energies’ turnaround of OML 17, a formerly underperforming asset burdened by oil theft and inactivity. According to Nwanze, the company reactivated over 100 dormant wells and achieved a 95–100% terminal delivery rate – all within the first 100 days of taking over the asset.
Heirs Energies also emphasised its strategic pivot toward gas as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy future. The company has commissioned the Agbada Non-Associated Gas (NAG) Plant and scaled its gas production to over 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd), positioning itself as a key supplier in the Eastern domestic gas market.
Osa Igiehon, Heirs Energies’ CEO, in his submission addressed pressing industry challenges, including crude oil theft, infrastructure sabotage, policy uncertainty, and energy security. He highlighted the role of indigenous companies like Heirs Energies in driving sustainable growth in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
“Our strategy is rooted in resilience and transparency,” Igiehon said. “We are building a globally competitive company with Nigerian leadership, for Nigerian and African prosperity. Africapitalism isn’t just a philosophy for us—it’s our business model.”
Beyond operations, the company spotlighted its commitment to social impact and host community development, aligned with its Africapitalist principles.
Key CSR achievements include:
Training over 300 youths through vocational programs
Awarding 280+ scholarships to students from host communities
Providing medical outreach to over 20,000 individuals
Rehabilitating 4,500 sqm of access roads
Empowering 1,000+ entrepreneurs in Rivers State through a partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Heirs Energies also revealed plans for continental expansion, with strategic interests in Namibia, Senegal, Angola, and other African energy markets. The company aims to replicate its Brownfield Excellence (BFE) model-leveraging local expertise and operational innovation-to revitalise underperforming assets across Africa.
The media parley underscored Heirs Energies’ ambition to lead not just within Nigeria but across the African energy sector, combining business success with measurable socio-economic impact.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, says the company is considering partnering with a professional refinery operator to address Nigeria’s lingering refining challenges.
Ojulari said this on Thursday, August 28, 2025, while receiving members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Mr. Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) (right), and Comrade Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN (left), during a courtesy visit by the association to the NNPC GCEO, on Thursday
He said NNPC had completed technical assessments on the country’s three refineries and recently concluded a commercial review of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which revealed the need for a more sustainable business model.
“The solution you are proposing is the same one we are working on.
“We have now completed the technical review of the three refineries, and from the commercial review of Port Harcourt, it’s clear that we need to bring in a true professional refinery company to partner with us,” Ojulari stated.
He explained that years of neglect and inadequate maintenance had rendered the refineries commercially unviable, resulting in losses of between N300 million to N500 million monthly.
“We were pumping around 50,000 barrels of crude daily into the refinery, but getting less than 40 per cent output.
“So, rather than continue to incur losses, we halted operations to seek a viable and profitable model,” he added.
Ojulari emphasised that President Bola Tinubu had not exerted any political pressure on NNPC to resume refinery operations prematurely, stressing that all steps taken so far had been focused on ensuring long-term sustainability.
“There was no political pressure to keep running at a loss. We decided to freeze operations and focus on getting it right,” he said.
He also addressed recent protests and calls for his removal, revealing several targets of coordinated harassment.
“There is a formidable plan to remove me, and staff morale has taken a hit. But we are focused on delivering our mandate,” Ojulari stated.
Earlier, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, hailed the current NNPC leadership for improved pipeline functionality and increased oil production since Ojulari’s appointment.
He also expressed the union’s readiness to support NNPC in its drive toward energy stability.
“We are currently producing about 1.8 million barrels per day.
“Our goal is to reach 2.6 million barrels by 2026 by addressing issues like non-producing fields,” Osifo said.
Commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos is materially reshaping regional flows but does not eliminate import dependence.
This formed one of the key takeaways by participants at a webinar held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, courtesy of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and S&P Global Commodity Insights (Platts).
Dangote Refinery gate
Themed: “West Africa Fuels Landscape: Market Fundamentals and Geopolitical Drivers”, the virtual session examined how global geopolitics, changing trade flows and new regional refining capacity are reshaping West Africa’s refined products landscape.
Discussions focused on the impact of the Dangote refinery commissioning, shifting export channels from Europe, the role of Lomé as a flexible trading hub, recent price shocks including a Dangote FCC outage, and methodological innovations to better reflect how material trades in the Gulf of Guinea.
While stating that refinery outages remain major price drivers and that Lomé functions as a growing marginal hub providing flexible small clip supply and supporting price discovery, discussants concluded that policy stability, transparent regulation and investor confidence are critical to attract downstream investment that will strengthen supply resilience and influence domestic prices.
The webinar had opened with a safety briefing from Kingsley Ojimba, MEMAN Jetty Superintendent, covering remote event hygiene and question protocols, including chat and raise hand functions.
MEMAN Chairman, Mr. Huub Stokman, framed the event as timely following Nigeria’s move to full fuel price deregulation, emphasising that rising local refining capacity changes the supply landscape and that MEMAN would support market transparency, benchmarking and coordinated stakeholder engagement during the transition.
Gary Clark, Associate Editorial Director for EMEA Clean Refined Products at S&P Global Commodity Insights, speaking on “Current Supply, Demand, and Pricing Dynamics in Europe and West Africa”, discussed gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel markets, and stressed supply resilience in the face of geopolitical disruption, including effects from Russia, Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. He highlighted weaker European demand fundamentals such as inflation and slower growth.
Clark noted that Dangote’s ramp up has reshaped flows, retaining much gasoil in West Africa and exporting some jet fuel internationally, which reduces but does not eliminate import dependence. He also noted that outages and maintenance can quickly reintroduce import needs and market volatility.
Mrs. Ogechi Nkwoji, Head, Economic Intelligence Research and Regulation at MEMAN, speaking on “Demystifying the Lomé Petroleum Market”, presented the ex-Lomé hub as a pragmatic offshore trading solution that evolved from onshore bottlenecks and declining domestic refinery performance.
She added that large cargoes are discharged into floating storage off Togo and sold in smaller 5 to 20 kiloton parcels to regional buyers, chiefly Nigerian marketers.
Matthew Tracey-Cook, Senior Price Reporter, EMEA Gasoline & West Africa Refined Products, S&P Global Community Insights, speaking on “Gasoline outlook”, reviewed European gasoline trends, seasonal quality premiums for summer blends and the links between European dynamics and West African markets. He observed that crack spreads have been softer relative to the post COVID and Russia Ukraine period, driven in part by reduced transatlantic arbitrage and lower exports to West Africa following Dangote’s commissioning.
Tracey-Cook highlighted a sharp rally in gasoline cracks in August after an FCC outage at Dangote, with implied cracks moving from about thirteen dollars per barrel to above seventeen dollars per barrel. This episode underscored how Dangote outages can have outsized impacts on Atlantic basin product balances and prompt market backwardation.
MEMAN’s CEO and Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, reaffirmed MEMAN’s commitment to leverage the partnership with S&P Global Commodity Insights for ongoing media education and stakeholder engagement on pricing and product flows.
Stakeholders from across The Gambia have unanimously validated the nation’s draft National Climate Change Bill and an accompanying National Climate Change Policy, marking a historic milestone in the country’s commitment to building a climate-resilient future.
The validation occurred following a comprehensive two-day national workshop held from August 18 to 19, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
Participants at the workshop to validate The Gambia’s draft National Climate Change Bill and National Climate Change Policy
The new integrated framework provides a legal and strategic roadmap to address the nation’s climate vulnerabilities, from sea-level rise to coastal erosion, while charting a path towards a just, green, and blue economy. The Bill establishes a robust legal architecture, while the Policy outlines a clear, five-pillar strategy for implementation.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), Ms. Rohey John Manjang, emphasised the framework’s importance.
“These frameworks are not just documents; they are our national pledge to strengthen resilience and achieve The Gambia’s ambitious climate targets,” she stated, commending the inclusive process and the “crucial role of Natural Eco Capital, the lead consultant, for delivering the drafts despite a very tight deadline.”
The validation is the culmination of an extensive consultation process involving government ministries, international partners like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and civil society organisations.
A cornerstone of the new legislation is its focus on decentralised action, ensuring that climate action is community-led and locally relevant.
Mr. Lamine Jammeh, Director of the Climate Change Secretariat, underscored the principles guiding the framework.
“A just transition, which places the needs of Gambians at the forefront, is a non-negotiable principle,” he said. “Our participation in carbon markets must safeguard national interests with transparency and equity.”
The drafting process received financial support from the World Bank-funded West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA). Dr. Muhammed L. Sanyang, WACA Project Manager, hailed the workshop as a “significant achievement for climate governance” and reaffirmed the World Bank’s “unwavering commitment” to supporting the implementation of these landmark frameworks.
Key features of the validated bill include a streamlined governance structure, the creation of a Directorate of Climate Finance, legal safeguards, including a Climate Change Division of the Environmental Tribunal, and a mandate to develop a legal framework for carbon rights to attract responsible investment.
With the validation complete, the bill will be presented to the Cabinet and the National Assembly for enactment into law.
Nigeria needs bold investments to address the energy deficit that affects millions of households and industries, Chairman of off-grid impact investment company All On, and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams, said on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, while addressing business leaders at the 2025 International Business Conference & Expo of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
Adams, who assumed the role of All On Board Chairman last month, quoted statistics showing that over 80 million Nigerians lacked access to reliable electricity.
Ronald Adams, Board Chairman of All On and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) delivering a speech at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), 2025 International Business Conference & Expo in Lagos
“The consequences of the deficit are far-reaching: stifled productivity, limited access to quality healthcare and education and stunted economic potentials,” he said.
But Adams was optimistic that, with the right policies and investments, the deficit could translate to a $10–20 billion market opportunity, especially in off-grid energy solutions such as mini-grids, solar home systems and clean cooking technologies.
He said that All On, which was established by Shell in 2016, had achieved over 50 direct investments, committed over $40 million and supported ventures that have brought clean energy to over 1.2 million Nigerians across 190 underserved communities across the country.
Adams called for more investments, highlighting the importance of strategic collaborations not just in energy, but across agriculture, digital technology, manufacturing, infrastructure and financial services. He commended efforts to attract foreign investment, including the launch of Investopedia, a digital platform showcasing opportunities across the 36 states.
He added: “We invite local and international investors to seize the moment and help unlock the full potentials of Nigeria’s renewable energy market. Together, we can build a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.”
TECA Heat Action Wave (THAW), a new initiative to address Nigeria’s escalating extreme heat crisis, was launched on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, by BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks Foundation, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Nigeria.
Together, the coalition has committed $1.1 million to support 12 early-stage ventures developing innovative solutions to protect climate-vulnerable communities from the growing impacts of extreme and chronic heat.
Above-danger heat stress: A man cools off amid searing heatwave
Extreme heat events are now at least 10 times more likely in West Africa due to human-caused global warming. In Nigeria, millions of jobs and livelihoods are already at risk, with more than 60% of the population regularly exposed to dangerous heatwaves. Urban settlements like Lagos, Kano, and Abuja now experience heat indices above 50°C during peak months.
“Extreme heat represents perhaps the most overlooked consequence of climate change affecting Africa today,” said Juliet Munro, Early-Stage Finance Director at FSD Africa. “It’s not only a public health emergency, but a threat to livelihoods, productivity, and long-term economic resilience. Through this initiative, we’re making a strategic investment in African-led innovation, supporting scalable, context-specific solutions that deliver real impact where it’s needed most.”
THAW will support 12 early-stage ventures developing market-driven early warning tools, innovative financial instruments such as parametric heat insurance, emergency-centric finance tech, and ecosystem enablers and builders – tools and services that help individuals and small businesses operate more safely and efficiently in rising heat, preferably integrating early warning systems or fintech solutions.
Selected entrepreneurs will receive seed capital, venture-building support, and expert-led sprints on user research, product design, business modeling, and fundraising. Each startup will be matched with an embedded venture builder who will join their team to accelerate execution and strategy. Entrepreneurs will also gain access to a suite of technical specialists, female-focused mentorship, and local consultants to support prototyping and market testing.
“Addressing the impacts of extreme heat requires bold, market-led innovation, and that’s exactly what this initiative delivers. By supporting local entrepreneurs to develop viable, scalable solutions, we’re strengthening the role of the private sector in driving climate resilience. FCDO is proud to back this partnership, which puts Nigerian-led innovation at the centre of solving one of the region’s most pressing climate adaptation challenges,” said Temi Akinrinade, Private Sector Development Advisor at FCDO Nigeria.
“Extreme heat is silently eroding lives, productivity, and economic opportunity,” said Tyler Ferdinand, TECA Director at BFA Global. “Through TECA, we’re not only funding ventures, we’re embedding the strategic support, networks, and capital they need to transform survival into resilience.”
“The world is racing against a closing window of time for investing in the ability of communities to withstand and recover from climate shocks. Adaptation is not only a response, but also a strategy for economic security, market stability, and shared prosperity in a warming world,” said Jessica Brown, Senior Director of Adaptation and Resilience at ClimateWorks Foundation.
The program will run through mid-2026, culminating in demo days and investor events. High-performing ventures may qualify for reinvestment and tailored follow-on support through 2027.
Implemented by BFA Global in partnership with FSD Africa, TECA is a venture-building program designed to spark exponential climate action by sourcing and accelerating bold, locally grounded solutions to emerging climate threats. This new heat-focused initiative reinforces TECA’s commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship, gender-intentional design, and transformational funding, positioning Nigeria as a hub for scalable, investable climate innovations.
The Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnology Activities (CVAB) welcomed, albeit with relief and satisfaction, the decision of the government of Burkina Faso to end Target Malaria project activities throughout the national territory.
“This wise, responsible, and historic decision marks an important step in preserving the scientific and health sovereignty of our country, Burkina Faso. It also demonstrates the authorities’ willingness to opt for solutions that respect public health, the environment, and citizens’ choices,” the group stated.
Malaria is a serious mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, primarily transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
The CVAB reaffirms that malaria is a national tragedy, causing grief to thousands of families each year. It hopes that the Burkinabe government will intensify the development and implementation of safe, inclusive, and proven public policies for the eradication of the disease.
“Several countries have succeeded in being certified malaria-free thanks to reliable and proven methods. Burkina Faso can also meet this challenge with strategies adapted to its realities.”
The CVAB expresses its deep gratitude to all those who, directly or indirectly, contributed to ensuring that the voice of civil society was heard in this process.
Target Malaria is a research consortium led by Imperial College London, which receives core funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to apparently eradicate Malaria in Africa. The first phase of its project in Burkina Faso has been a failure, involving the release of GM mosquitoes.
“We have witnessed strained human capacity on the part of regulatory authorities; a lack of experience, transparency, and compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and Cartagena Protocol; and, most disturbing, alleged human rights violations.
“Free, Prior, Informed Consent interventions by the project included the use of intimidation and fear, driving conflict and dividing communities based on false promises. The limited public participation, dubious tactics, and silencing of communities illustrate its failure to ensure genuine, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent,” submitted CVAB.
The Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation friend of the month for August is Georgina Goodwin, an award-winning documentary photographer based in Nairobi, Kenya. Whether documenting refugee children in Tanzania, post-election violence in Kenya, or community conservation in northern Kenya, Georgina uses her lens to spotlight resilience, truth, and hope
Georgina Goodwin
Could you tell us a bit about your upbringing and the work you do?
I grew up in Kenya surrounded by wide skies, wildlife, and stories of people deeply connected to the land. Those early experiences instilled in me a profound respect for both nature and community. Today, I work as a documentary photographer and storyteller, focusing on conservation, environment, and human rights across East and Central Africa. My work weaves together photography, short film clips, and narrative to connect audiences with the urgent need to protect both people and the planet.
Please share more about how your passion took shape and perhaps a defining moment when you realised photography was your calling.
Photography began for me as a way of holding onto fleeting moments of beauty and connection. But very quickly, it grew into a tool for advocacy. The defining moment came when I was documenting Kenya’s 2007 elections; I continued to take photos during the post-election violence, where many times I witnessed atrocities that would otherwise have gone undocumented had I not captured them with my camera.
My images became part of the ‘Kenya Burning’ exhibition, which toured the country months later, helping Kenyans to see what happened and commit to “never again”. My images were shortlisted for the Prix Bayeux Calvados War Correspondence Award in 2008. I knew then the power of photography for impact and change. That was when I knew this was not just a career, but my calling.
Since then, I’ve used my photography as a tool for positive change for social issues, fundraising for cancer and women’s health, and for the environment, where communities see the value of keeping their land for wildlife, and their conservation decisions are providing for a brighter future. I also contribute my images to online print sales with proceeds that give back to conservation initiatives across Africa. When I look back at my 20-year career, I see repeatedly how an image can do more than document; it can move people to care, to act, and to imagine new possibilities.
At its core, how do you distinguish documentary photography from other genres, and what does this medium allow you to express that others don’t?
Documentary photography is grounded in truth and authenticity. It’s not staged, and it doesn’t seek perfection. Instead, it seeks honesty. Unlike other genres, it allows me to express complexity: joy and struggle, resilience and fragility, humanity and wildness. It gives space for nuance, which is essential in telling the layered stories of both people and ecosystems. It also connects me to the space where I feel grounded and serious about telling important stories from our world.
Can you share a moment when one of your wildlife photographs directly contributed to awareness or action for conservation?
One example that stays with me is a photograph I took for the front cover of Conservation International’s 3D virtual reality film “My Africa”, of a Samburu girl called Naltwasha and a young, orphaned elephant Shaba, at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya. The image shows them meeting for the first time and was used for the front cover of the film, directly reflecting and amplifying its message – to bring viewers up close and personal with community conservation in northern Kenya.
Since the release of the film in April 2018, this image has been used to exemplify gentleness, community-led conservation and our connection with nature. Most recently, it has become a part of the curated “Prints for Nature” fine art print collection, with proceeds going to Conservation International.
From your work on refugee children in Tanzania to capturing conservation stories like Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, how do you balance the emotional intensity of social issues with showing resilience, hope, and connection?
The balance lies in seeing the whole story. Yes, there is struggle and loss, which can be challenging not only to capture but to manage emotionally. There is also strength, dignity, and wisdom. I aim to photograph people and wildlife not only in their vulnerability but in their resilience. This not only helps to keep me grounded in my hope to reconnect people back to nature and the planet, but also creates stories that empower rather than diminish, that invite compassion rather than pity, and that highlight solutions rather than despair.
What have been some of the highlights in this journey?
Highlights for me are often not about awards or exhibitions but about the people and places I’ve had the privilege to work with. In Tides of Protection along Kenya’s coast, it is the community, the rangers and the seaweed-farming women who show me about resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change. In the Mara, it is Maasai elders who remind and show me how conservation can be rooted in indigenous wisdom. These encounters continuously inspire me and shape not just my work, but who I am.
Your photographs have won many awards and been seen across the world. How have these platforms shaped your reach, and do they influence your sense of responsibility as a visual storyteller?
These platforms have amplified the voices of people and places I photograph, far beyond what I could have imagined. To see my work from western Kenya highlighting ‘safe water’ on a billboard in Times Square or my conservation images in the Louvre and as far as Japan and Colombia is humbling because it means these stories are reaching the world. With that visibility comes responsibility: to always tell stories ethically, with dignity, and to spark not just awareness but real change.
How do you nurture emerging African storytellers, particularly women, and what advice do you offer to help them find their voice?
I believe mentorship is one of the most powerful forms of conservation. By equipping young storytellers, especially women, with skills, confidence, and networks, I can help ensure that the next generation of stories will be told by those who are closest and who live those stories every day. My advice is simple: stay rooted in truth. Your voice matters, your perspective is unique, and the world needs your stories. Photography is not just about seeing, it’s about being seen and helping others to be seen.
The United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), wrapped up a major national initiative to support State-led electricity market reforms. The State Learning Workshop Series focused on Electricity Market Development, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and energy modelling software.
Workshops in Lagos, Calabar Kano and Jos have been successfully completed, drawing participants from all the 36 States and the FCT and setting a strong precedent for what lies ahead. These sessions equipped policymakers, regulators and stakeholders with the tools to design robust, sustainable and investor-ready electricity markets at the State level, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.
Participants at the State Electricity Workshop in Jos
Reflecting on the significance of this initiative, Mr. Chijioke Chuku, Director-Legal/Head Power Desk at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, stated: “Nigeria’s electricity future depends on the capacity of our States to lead with vision, clarity, and technical precision. Through the workshop series, we are equipping States not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to take charge of their electricity markets. The NGF is proud to partner with UKNIAF in ensuring that the promise of the Electricity Act 2023 becomes a lived reality across the country.”
The sessions in the State Learning Workshops covered:
The legal and regulatory pathways for setting up State Electricity Markets;
Commercial models for private sector investment;
Integration of State plans into Nigeria’s National IRP;
Practical training on the software platform for energy modelling.
The initiative drew from lessons learned in the course of UKNIAF’s work supporting the Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Oyo State Governments – early movers in electricity market development – in setting up their markets. It also drew from experience gained in the course of UKNIAF providing technical support to the Federal Ministry of Power in drafting both the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria’s first National Integrated Resource Plan, both of which were approved very recently.
With States now empowered by the Electricity Act 2023, the series is seen as a timely and strategic effort to ensure capacity, coordination, and sustainability in Nigeria’s decentralised energy landscape.
The UK Government has awarded 85 Nigerians the prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships to study a wide range of master’s degrees and PhD programmes in the UK in 2025.
This year, 39 scholars and 1 fellow received the Chevening scholarships, while 45 scholars have been awarded the Commonwealth scholarship so far. A pre-departure ceremony was held in Abuja on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, for scholars based in Abuja and environs, while a similar ceremony will hold in Lagos in September, for scholars in Lagos and nearby cities.
Beneficiaries of the UK Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships
At the Abuja pre-departure reception, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Gill Lever, congratulated beneficiaries who succeeded in securing a scholarship through the highly competitive application and interview process.
Speaking at the ceremony, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Gill Lever said: “We are proud to see another batch of scholars depart over the next few weeks for the UK knowing that they will come back and add to a very strong Chevening network in Nigeria.
“They will return with a lasting positive disposition towards the UK, acting as ambassadors by sharing their understanding of systems, policies, and life in the UK– and then bringing those experiences back to Nigeria and doing great things while creating a positive change in this country and the world.”
Speaking at the Reception, Director Programmes, British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, said: “As you leave for the United Kingdom for further studies, you carry with you not only your personal aspirations but also the hopes of your communities and the promise of contributing to Nigeria’s future. We are confident that the knowledge, skills, and networks you will acquire in the UK will return as seeds of innovation, leadership, and progress for our nation, particularly, at this phase of its development.”
Chevening fellow, Tijjanni Mukaddas, who will study at the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies, said: “I feel truly humbled and grateful that with over 18 million Nigerian children denied education, the Chevening Fellowship enables me to craft impactful policies that will integrate them into education. It’s a dream come true; I’m honoured to embark on this journey at Oxford University.”
Commonwealth scholar, Cynthia Okoli, who will study at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: “I look forward to developing my interpersonal and professional skills, as well as building lasting friendships and networks that cut across disciplines and cultures through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) events and interactions with classmates and faculties from both schools. These experiences will broaden my perspective and strengthen my ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary settings.”
