On 31 August, Commonwealth Alumni in Abuja participated in an information session on Commonwealth Scholarship opportunities and support for people living with disabilities (PLWD). The event was comprised of a general information session and panel discussion with Commonwealth Alumni.
The CSC is committed to supporting talented individuals who have the potential to make change and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates and the support available to disabled applicants and scholars, as outlined in the CSC Disability Support Statement here.
The event opened with welcome remarks delivered by Chika Idoko, Regional Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, SSA, British Council Nigeria. She highlighted the CSC’s work and commitment to promoting widespread access to higher education, especially those from marginalised backgrounds. This was followed by specific information on Commonwealth Scholarships available in Nigeria, how to apply, and what makes a good quality application, as well as an overview of policies and support available through the CSC to PLWD.
The second part of the event included a panel discussion with Commonwealth Alumni.
Panellists:
- Dr Victoria Shoyombo (2012 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar), MPH Public Health, University of Manchester
- Ademola Adeleke (2022 Commonwealth Scholar), MA Disability Studies, Liverpool Hope University
- Dr Israel Balogun (2022 Commonwealth Scholar), PhD Humanitarian Studies and Public Health, University College London
- Dr Samuel Ekundayo (2017 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar), President, Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association, Nigeria (COSFAN)
The panel shared their personal experiences and advice to attendees and guidance on the application process. The session was followed by a Q&A after which the event closed.
