With effect from September, the scholarship will be offered every year to five young Nigerian professionals aspiring to careers in management. Under the scheme, the selected students will have their tuition and living expenses paid for as they complete their MBA degrees at LBS.

According to MBA Director, Mr Henry Onukwuba, the scholarship will be offered on a basis of merit and proven financial need.

He said: “Every year a number of good candidates are unable to take up their admission offers because they cannot afford our relatively high fees.”

“LBS is committed to developing business leaders, and so we seek ways to support high potential but indigent candidates. We are happy about this new scholarship programme, and thank the sponsors.” he added.

The scholarship programme goes beyond offering financial assistance, as the selected students will also attend a summer session at the Frankfurt School of Finance, and conduct a mandatory internship at one of Roland Berger's international offices. The course of study emphasises management science, the development of leadership skills and the acquisition of capacity for sound decision making.

Speaking on behalf of Roland Berger, Partner of the sub-Saharan African division, Mr Christian Wessels, said “We are aware of our role in the Nigerian society and committed to the development of the community where we operate.”

“For us this programme is just the start of our long-term engagement with the economic future of the country,” he added.

While Roland Berger and the African Development Corporation are making the initial financial commitment, the CEO of African Development Corporation, Mr Dirk Harbecke, hopes the programme's supporters would eventually be broadened to include more German and international companies so that it can assist even more young professionals throughout Nigeria.