Howard University Awarded Fulbright-Hays Grant to Fund Study Abroad Opportunities in Nigeria

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has awarded the Howard University Center for African Studies $159,888 to fund two consecutive summers of the Yoruba Group Project, which helps students to study at the University of Ibadan's Yoruba Language Center in Nigeria. Titled the Yoruba Group Project Abroad, this is the second cycle of funding for the rare, study abroad learning opportunity made possible through the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. Howard University is the only institution of higher learning in the United States to manage the project for the next two summers.

"We are pleased to receive this grant for the second year, which will provide the opportunity for our students to study at the University of Ibadan," says Howard University Provost Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D. "Congratulations to Professor Omolola, and his team for their hard work and contributions leading to funding of this award again."

Yoruba Group Project Abroad Director Bayo Omolola, Ph.D. says the purpose of the grant is to provide a unique learning opportunity for qualified American students taking Yoruba courses in American colleges. The goal is to help participants in the program to acquire advanced Yoruba language and culture proficiency that will allow them to use their communication skills in various forms.

"I am really excited and prepared for another cycle of the Fulbright-Hays intensive Advanced Yoruba Group Project Abroad," says Omolola. "The students selected will have an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves into Yoruba language and culture at a fast pace ? the type they've never had in America. I'm looking forward to working with the local educators and language partners in Yoruba to enhance the participants' communications skills and cultural awareness."

Last summer, 12 students traveled to Yoruba for the project. Omolola says the project enriched the cohort tremendously by exposing them to Nigeria, a culturally and linguistically rich region of West Africa.

The Yoruba Group Project Abroad program is currently accepting applications from interested students from now until February 2019. For additional information on the program, including eligibility requirements, application deadlines and a full overview of the program, visit https://cfas.howard.edu/academics/study-abroad/yoruba.

Media contact: Alonda Thomas, [email protected] 

SOURCE Howard University