CYPRUS, Nov 17 – More scholarships for Kenyan students to study in Cyprus will be available early next year, the president of the European University of Cyprus Andreas Orphanides has announced.
In a meeting with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at the university, the professor who coordinated putting together 28 scholarships last year both from public and private universities in Cyprus said this year his university will provide 10 additional scholarships while others will come from other private universities.
“We are glad to be able to give Kenyan students access to quality education in Europe in banking and finance, business administration, engineering and ICT. I am confident this will go a long way to strengthen the historic ties between Kenya and Cyprus,” said Orphanides.
The VP who was accompanied by the head of the Orthodox Church in East Africa Bishop Makarios said Kenyan parents were overwhelmed by the generosity of the people and government of Cyprus in providing the scholarships.
Earlier the Vice President and his wife Pauline hosted last year’s beneficiaries of the scholarships coordinated in Kenya by the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation for dinner. He told the group of excited students to work hard and ensure that they go home having graduated with honours in their degree courses.
“The best way for you to thank your parents and those who made sure your scholarships were possible is to graduate at the top of your classes,” Musyoka urged.
Assistant Minister for Higher Education dubbed the scholarships mini airlifts reminiscent of the 1960s Mboya-Kennedy airlifts that saw many Kenyan students travel to study in America.
Speaking on behalf of the students Sheila Chelangat said the scholarships had opened for them new frontiers for personal growth and development and that they would always be grateful to the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation and the people of Cyprus for the opportunity.
According to Maurice Oduor Onyango, learning Greek by some students has been both challenging and exciting. “Learning the language is a major challenge but at the end of the day one is happy to master one more language spoken in parts of our globe. After all the world is now a global village,” he said.
The Ambassador of Cyprus to Nairobi told the students that Greek was a recognized European Union language and learning it would help open opportunities within the EU.
Musyoka wound up his three day official visit to Cyprus by meeting officials of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry where he invited the Cyprus business community to invest in Kenya.
Accompanying the Vice President are Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi, Assistant Ministers Kabando wa Kabando and Asman Kamama as well Mathira MP Ephraim Maina and several businessmen.
