The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, has said that Germany is currently hosting a significant number of Nigerian individuals, with no fewer than four thousand Nigerians pursuing education and employment opportunities in the country.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, Gunther disclosed this.
She claims that the German Academic Exchange Service awards at least a thousand scholarships each year.
According to her, the German government is trying to make it easier for prospective Nigerian students to get visas to Germany.
“At the moment, we have approximately 4000 Nigerian students in Germany, coming and going in and out of the country and, also engaging in other things.
”I know we are not yet in a position to issue the visas for the students on time, but we are working on that. We are not interested in preventing people from coming to Germany.
”We want them to come. So there is also something to do on our side to improve our capacities on visa issuance,” she said.
She clarified that while English was the medium of instruction in many German courses, proficiency in the language was still necessary to get by in the nation.
She claimed that, in comparison to other nations where English is the official language, university education in Germany was either completely free or reasonably priced.
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The envoy claims that students are eager to study in Germany due in large part to the country’s world-class and highly esteemed universities.
“That is why the German Academic Exchange Service gives out not less than 1000 scholarships yearly,” she said.
According to the envoy, there are numerous initiatives in Nigeria that promote German language and culture, the most well-known of which is the Dutsche Institute.
She clarified that the institute’s primary focus was on language instruction and the associated language examinations.
”It is a cultural exchange, it is also about scientific cooperation, exhibitions, and interaction of artists, music and others.
“Basically, what they do is to interact with Nigerian artists and connect both countries’ artists in the various fields.
“For language training, probably the best known German language is also taught at a number of universities and the German Academic Exchange service,” she said.
According to Gunther, not less than 80,000 Nigerians live and work in Germany and are contributing meaningfully to its economic growth.
“It is also in our interest because our population is shrinking and we are lacking a workforce. We are happy with everybody who comes to support us.
“Most of them have come to work and live in Germany to make a living, to earn money, support their families and also send money home.
”Nigerians have made meaningful contributions in Germany, just like many other foreigners from other countries,” she said.
(NAN)
