The German ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, says there are at least four thousand Nigerians schooling and working in Germany.

Ms Gunther, in an interview on Sunday in Abuja, said the German Academic Exchange Service gives out at least 1,000 scholarships yearly.

“Currently, we have approximately 4000 Nigerian students in Germany, coming and going in and out of the country and engaging in other things,” said Ms Gunther.

She said the German government was working on improving visa approvals for Nigerian students intending to go to Germany.

”I know we are not yet in a position to issue the visas for the students on time, but we are working on that. We are not interested in preventing people from coming to Germany.

”We want them to come. So there is also something to do on our side to improve our capacities on visa issuance,” she said.

She explained that many courses in Germany were taught in English. However, she added that having a certain knowledge of the German language was imperative to survive in the country.

The envoy said university studies in Germany were either free or not very expensive compared with other countries with English as the official language.

According to the envoy, there is keen interest in students coming and studying in Germany, mainly because German universities are top-class and internationally renowned.

“That is why the German Academic Exchange Service gives out not less than 1,000 scholarships yearly,” she said.

The envoy said there were many programmes to support German culture and language training in Nigeria, with the most famous being the Deutsche Institute.

She explained that the institute was basically about language courses and the corresponding language tests.

“It is a cultural exchange; it is also about scientific cooperation, exhibitions, the interaction of artists, music, and others,” she said.

According to Gunther, more than 80,000 Nigerians live and work in Germany and contribute meaningfully to its economic growth.

“It is also in our interest because our population is shrinking, and we lack a workforce. We are happy with everybody who comes to support us.

“Nigerians have made meaningful contributions in Germany, just like many other foreigners from other countries,” she said. NAN