OAU secures 10 scholarships, land approval for German Village
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has secured approval to accommodate a dedicated German Village on its campus following a visit by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, Daniel Kroll.
The development followed a strategic meeting organised by the university’s Department of Foreign Languages and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office on September 24, 2026, which focused on strengthening academic and cultural ties between OAU and Germany.
The engagement also resulted in scholarship opportunities for 10 OAU students seeking to study in Germany, bringing the total number of beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme from the university to 22.
Speaking on the development, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed delight at the deepening partnership between the university and the German government, saying the approval for the German Village would provide greater opportunities for students.
The German Consul General, who met with principal officers of the university, commended OAU for its academic consistency and noted the achievements of previous scholarship beneficiaries, including some who had worked at the German Parliament. “Our future prosperity is knowledge-based,” Kroll said.
The meeting also featured cultural performances by OAU students, who rendered poems and songs originally composed in Yoruba but translated and performed in German. Kroll described the engagement as a strong foundation for deeper collaboration between Germany and the university.
Kroll also disclosed plans to advocate for the integration of German as a third language in Nigerian schools, while seeking the expertise of OAU’s linguistics scholars. He further expressed interest in supporting green energy initiatives on the university campus.
The university management requested enhanced library resources to support German language studies, a request Kroll agreed to facilitate through diplomatic channels. The proposed German Village is expected to further strengthen academic, cultural and institutional ties between OAU and Germany.
