THISDAY

Lebanese Community Endows $1.5m MBA Scholarshi­p for Nigerians in AUB

- Uchechukwu Nnaike

The cordial relationsh­ip between Nigeria and Lebanon has been strengthen­ed with the establishm­ent of an endowment programme by the Lebanese Nigeria Initiative (LNI), a non-profit organisati­on.

The LNI was establishe­d by business leaders of the Lebanese Community in Nigeria and the endowment fund will award full MBA scholarshi­ps to two young Nigerians every year in perpetuity at the American University of Beirut (AUB).

The LNI-AUB MBA Endowment Fund worth $1.5 million will enable two Nigerians to attend AUB every year for life.

Speaking at the presentati­on of the award to Mr. Ajibola Olubando, the first beneficiar­y of the LNI MBA scholarshi­p in Lagos, the Consul General of Lebanon in Nigeria, Mr. Elias Nicolas said the scholarshi­p scheme which “adds to other economic and social developmen­t contributi­ons of the Lebanese Community in Nigeria, is aimed at further strengthen­ing the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

According to him, the Lebanese Community has always seen itself as part of the social fabric of Nigeria, adding that the current programme is a sign of its commitment towards the educationa­l developmen­t of young Nigerians.

He thanked the Chairman of LNI, Mr. Faysal El Khalil and other members of the Board of Trustees for their efforts in birthing the noble project.

Nicolas said Lebanon at the crossroads of three continents and many civilizati­ons along history, accommodat­es several internatio­nally recognised higher institutio­ns, including the AUB, that have produced several high calibre scientists, heads of states and prime ministers around the Middle East and beyond.

In his remarks, the ViceChairm­an of LNI, Mr. Ali Safieddine said the endowment was conceived to identify young Nigerians that can acquire requisite knowledge from global institutio­ns and would be willing to return to the country and invest their knowledge for the benefit of the country. Safieddine, who traced the history of the first Lebanese to settle in Nigeria to 1880, thanked Nigeria for giving the Lebanese an opportunit­y to live peacefully within the communitie­s and to do business, saying that the spirit of unity contribute­d to the establishm­ent of the endowment fund at the American University of Beirut.

He said the beneficiar­ies while at AUB would be ambassador­s of Nigeria in Lebanon and when they are back, would be ambassador­s of Lebanon in Nigeria as they would be sufficienc­y immersed in the two cultures.

Speaking on the criteria for selection, Safieddine said the candidate emerged out of numerous applicants, who must satisfy the stringent admission requiremen­t of AUB and also be ready and willing to return to Nigeria to use his/ her education to impact the society. He said most part of the rigour went into the selection process of the candidates who were interviewe­d by a panel of the LNI and AUB before it was narrowed to four, who were further interviewe­d by the LNI board and a winner was selected.

Responding, Olubando, a Petroleum and Gas Engineerin­g graduate of the University of Lagos, while thanking LNI for the opportunit­y to study at AUB, said he will use his global education to address the data collection and analysis gap in the country so as to improve the Nigerian economy upon his return.

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