The Federal Government has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s participation in the Erasmus+ program will be a game-changer in the concerted efforts to produce globally competitive graduates with the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to drive the country’s quest for sustainable development.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, said this at the maiden edition of Erasmus+ National Information Day held in Abuja.
Erasmus+ stands for the European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students+. Under the program, the European Union has earmarked a whopping sum of €570 million as a budget allocation for sub-Saharan Africa for 2021-2027.
While the Erasmus Programme is the EU program that allows students to travel to countries in the European Union, Erasmus+ on the other hand is the new program combining all the EU’s current schemes for education, training, youth, and sports, which started in January 2014 and will be held for the period 2021-2027.
According to the EU, the enhanced phase of Erasmus+ aims to improve the skills, competences, and employability of higher and vocational education students, and the training of academic and administrative staff.