The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), with more than 2,000 Nigerian applicants participating in nomination interviews for the prestigious international scholarship programme.
The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed this in a press release issued on Monday, November 2, 2026, following the opening ceremony of the nomination interviews in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, said academic excellence, quality research and national development would guide Nigeria’s selection process.
She identified academic merit, the quality of proposed study plans and their potential developmental impact as the three major criteria for selecting candidates, stressing that applicants must demonstrate how their proposed programmes would contribute to solving national challenges.
Olatunji-David described the Commonwealth Scholarship as a strategic investment in human capital development, urging interview panel members to uphold fairness, objectivity and professionalism throughout the selection exercise.
She also called for the alignment of scholarship selections with Nigeria’s development priorities, particularly the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
According to her, the programme should produce highly skilled professionals capable of advancing education reforms, strengthening institutions, promoting innovation and supporting national development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The director further noted that the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, established in 1959, had produced more than 30,000 beneficiaries globally, including Nigerians who had contributed significantly to national development, particularly in tertiary education.
Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards, Mrs Khadijat Liman, disclosed that the ministry received more than 2,000 applications through its Electronic Application System (EAS).
She explained that the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom had invited the department to nominate qualified Nigerian candidates, adding that the ministry was committed to presenting outstanding scholars who could sustain Nigeria’s reputation within the Commonwealth scholarship framework.
Liman urged interview panel members to adhere strictly to the commission’s selection criteria, noting that the quality of nominees was essential to maintaining Nigeria’s credibility and competitiveness. She also acknowledged the contributions of State Scholarship Boards and the ministry’s zonal officers in creating awareness about the scholarship opportunities across the country.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the British High Commission, Ms Sarah Amu, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to education, leadership development and capacity building through scholarship programmes.
She revealed that 56 Nigerian Commonwealth Master’s and PhD scholars commenced their academic programmes in the United Kingdom in September 2026, describing the development as evidence of the longstanding educational partnership between Nigeria and the UK.
Amu commended Nigeria’s decision to conduct nomination interviews across the six geopolitical zones, saying the approach would promote fairness, inclusiveness and equal opportunities for applicants.
She encouraged candidates to remain confident and authentic during the interviews, particularly when discussing their academic ambitions, leadership experiences and plans to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan provides opportunities for advanced studies, international academic exchange, research, leadership development and knowledge transfer among Commonwealth countries.
The Federal Ministry of Education maintained that the programme’s benefits should extend beyond obtaining international qualifications to applying acquired knowledge and expertise to address societal challenges, strengthen institutions and promote innovation.
The government said the ongoing selection exercise was aimed at identifying outstanding Nigerian scholars whose expertise would contribute to NESRI and support the development of a competitive, knowledge-driven and prosperous economy.
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