By Gloria Ikibah 
Nigeria has called for an increase in the number of scholarship slots allocated to its students under Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, saying the current allocation of 50 places is inadequate for a country with a large population.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Hungary, Engr. Abass Braimah, made the appeal on Tuesday during a working visit to the headquarters of the Tempus Public Foundation in Budapest, Hungary.
Braimah, who was accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mrs Vivienne Ekwora Ogonyi, met with the foundation’s Director-General, Péter Tordai, and the Director of Study in Hungary, Orsolya Jánosik.
Discussions focused on strengthening educational cooperation between Nigeria and Hungary, particularly through the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, which provides opportunities for international students to study at Hungarian universities.
The ambassador argued that the 50 slots currently allocated to Nigeria were too few to meet the demand from qualified students in the country.
He appealed to the Tempus Public Foundation to consider increasing Nigeria’s allocation to enable more eligible students to benefit from the programme.
The scholarship initiative provides an avenue for Nigerian students to pursue higher education in Hungary while strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries.
Braimah also encouraged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the programme when applications open in November 2026.
The visit forms part of the Nigerian Embassy’s efforts to deepen bilateral relations with Hungary, expand educational opportunities and support Nigerian students pursuing their studies in the European country.
An increase in Nigeria’s scholarship allocation will potentially widen access to international education for more students, although any adjustment would depend on the relevant Hungarian authorities and programme administrators.
