NIA committed to education on Nevis; new agriculture scholarship available for students

(NIA) Charlestown Nevis – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) with collaborative efforts from Earth University based in Costa Rica and a generous benefactor have teamed up to offer full scholarships to students on Nevis interested in pursuing studies in the field of agriculture.

In an interview with the Department of Information on  at his Charlestown office on November 19, 2013, Minister of Agriculture in the NIA, Hon. Alexis Jeffers, explained the importance of this new venture to the people of Nevis and outlined the scholarship.

“This is significant because the Nevis Island Administration, along with a kind donor is putting together an initiative whereby we can have students, young men and young women from Nevis go off to Earth University in Cost Rica to study in the field of Agriculture.

“This initiative is important because this kind donor would have consented to offer fully paid scholarships to two deserving Nevisian students. It would also cover room and board, full tuition and other related expenses in Costa Rica,” he said.

Mr. Jeffers stated the expectations of this new scholarship available to students.

“We’re hoping to have two scholarships this year or for the next school year which starts next September and then thereafter, one scholarship per year for the next five years. What that means, is that over the next five years, we’re going to have seven persons who would have benefited from scholarships to Earth University in Costa Rica,” he said.

The Minister of Agriculture also used the opportunity to encouraged students on the island, to take advantage of the various scholarships whenever they became available through the NIA, to help improve education on the island.

“This of course is good news to us…of course we continue to offer assistance in this regard so this is a very good time for the young men and young women of Nevis.

“We’re encouraging one and all to take advantage of the various scholarships that are available, so that we can continue to improve on the human resource factors on the island, in terms of improving our educational capacity and to help build this island as we move forward,” he said.

In conclusion, Mr. Jeffers thanked Earth University and the donor for their contribution towards the new initiative.

“Once again thank you to Earth University. Thank you to all who would have made this initiative possible and the Nevis Island Administration is very appreciative of that,” he said.