Zulum to sponsor Borno students willing to study Chinese language in China

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, says he will sponsor indigent students interested in studying a Chinese language in China.

Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, Bala Isah, executive secretary of the Borno scholarship board, said Zulum also approved sponsorship for undergraduate courses in Medicine.

Isah said the governor has also approved scholarship for Engineering courses in reputable institutions in China.

He said interested applicants for the Chinese language must pass all Arts subjects, adding that the age requirement is between 18 to 25 years.

“Applicants for Medicine and Engineering must pass English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics,” Isah said.

“Candidates should have a 75 percent minimum in WAEC for MBBS and 65 percent minimum in WAEC for Engineering.

“The detailed calculation for percentage is available on the scholarship website — www.scholarship.bo.gov.ng.”

He added that interested applicants should register before August 15.

China has a population of about 1.4 billion and is home to 56 ethnic groups. An estimated 20 percent of the world’s population speaks a Chinese language.

The Chinese language is divided into eight or 10 most common languages.

The dialects include Mandarin, Non-sinitc, Cantonese (Yue), Gan, Hakka, Min, Wu (Shanghainese), Xiang (Hunanese).

Mandarin is the most widely spoken and official Chinese language. It is spoken by more than 70 percent of the population.

Mandarin has other dialects within it including Northern Mandarin, Northwestern Mandarin, Southern and Southwestern Mandarin.