FULLBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT

        

fullbright scholarship

What do you know about "Fulbright"

 

Fulbright is an international  scholarship boards was founded and funded in 1946, shortly after the end if the catastrophic second world war. It was named after, its pioneer, William J. Fulbright, a U.S democrat senator from Arkansas. It has since become the world's foremost international scholarship program of no rival. The main thrust of Fulbright was his concerned for fostering a sound  foreign policy for the post world war, one founded on corporation among nations. He was persuaded that Education and diplomacy are indispensable instruments for a successful foreign policy.

fullbright

How was Fulbright was founded and  Funded  

  Fulbright was funded through proceeds from excess U.S war properties that were sold abroad. The idea was to use the revenue from those sales to fund educational exchange between the United states and the would be the recipient countries. U.S scholars and students were posted abroad to kick start the program.

On November 10, 1947, The people Republic of  China became the first country in the world to sign the Fulbright agreement with the United states, followed by Burma (Myanmar). Fulbright had faltering start, because of the domestic problems with many U.S governments agencies, particularly, the Department of States. Some argue that the money should instead be used to build embassies, however, the intervention by the then, secretary of state, Dean Alcheson, saved Fulbright from foetal extermination, as a result, the Education Exchange Act of 1948 was passed which gave impetus to the program.

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Features of  Fulbright

   Fulbright is Binationalist: Foreign governments had to agree on the rates at which War properties were sold, they became involved in the program's  administration, this was Fulbright intention so that it won't appear to mean the united states was imposing her ideals on other nations.

 

Fulbright is created in 1947 to decides which students and International institutions were qualified to participate.

 

Members of FFSB are hand picked from private sectors rather than public life, once a country signs up a Fulbright agreement with the United states, a binational commission is created to decides how the programs would operate in the host country.

The programme is not limited to traditional academic like English and Economics. It cuts across all disciplines. It has sought out since its creation, for talented individuals and not just from university campuses.

Fulbright, in its 78years, has become a bastion of educational program, reaching over  One hundred and Sixty countries on Six continents each year. About 2,000 U.S students and 800 scholars received Fulbright awards, and  4000 foreign students and 900 scholars.

 

Fulbright's Success

Fulbright from its inception recorded a slew of International success and has contributed tremendously to the advancement and betterment of the world. Its founders were no longer alive to witness the program they have initiated. Most notable of Fulbright's success are :

• 89 have received the  famous Pulitzer Prize.
• 75 have been MacArthur Fellows.
• 60 have received  a Nobel Prize.
• 39 have served has head of state (the immediate president of Afghanistan ; Ashraf Ghani).
• 10 have been elected to U. S congress.
• 1 served as Secretary General of United Nations ( Baltrous Baltrous Ghali, from Egypt.

 

Nigerians and Africans that  have been awarded Fulbright scholarship

 

• Alex Ekwueme (Former Vice president of Nigeria, under shagarri regime)
• Kofi Abrefa Busia (Ghana academic and former Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969-1972)
• George C. Clerk (Ghana botanist)
• J. M Coetzee (South African author, and recipient of Nobel prize in literature in 2003)
• Taiwo Olayemi Elufioye ( a professor at University of Ibadan)
• Akinwumi Ambode (former Lagos state Governor)
• Professo. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole (Former V.C of Bowen University)
• Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi (The current V.C of Age Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti)
• Mikael Chukwuma Owunna
• Professor. Ifeoma Yvonne Ajunwa
• Professor Mojisola Adeyeye (Former Director General of NAFDAC)
• Nnena Okorie
• Mejai Bankole Avoseh
• Professor. Kayode Soremekun ( current V.C of FUOYE and An alumni of Obafemi Awolowo University)
• Professor. Fransisca Oboh-ikuenobe (bagged her Ms.c in  OAU )
• Ade Solanke (play wright)
• Professor. Julie Okoh (playwright)
• Dele Jegede (an artist and painter)
• Professor. Folakemi Titilayo odedina  (Alumni Oa)
• Professor. Adetoun Ogunsheye
• Abiodun Falodun
• Simeon Chituru Achinewu
• Zulu Sofola (playwright)
• Evie Ladin
• TGO gbadamosi
• Demi Akimwande
• Oluwatoyin Asojo
• Ruby Oyinyechi Amanze

The list is endless.

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Criticism

Despite its huge success,the program is not immune to criticism. For example it has been accusd of importing communism into united in 1950s, by the then notorious senator, Joe McCarthy. Successful administration since Ronald Regan has tried unsuccessfully to downsize the program budget most of which went ignore the u.s congress(.Bill Clinon and Obama)

Recently Donald trump moved for a cut in the program budget by 71 percent, rather do the obvious, the congress instead increased it by $800,000.

In conclusion, the Fulbright is one of the greatest  successful policies of the cold war and one of the tools of U.S soft power. The evidence is in the program's Six continents, One hundred and sixty plus countries and 40,000 scholars. It bears semblance to the Technical Aide Corps founded by The then, Nigerian head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda (IBB).

 

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