The Chinese government has for decades sponsored Kenyan students to pursue cream course in the country's prestigious universities. [Photo/CRI]

Eddy Mwangi's ancestral village in central Kenya is renowned for producing intellectual heavy weights thanks to abundance of well equipped modern schools.

The 19-year-old son of career civil servants was privileged to study in national schools that encourage hard work, team spirit and service to community.

Mwangi graduated from high school with an impressive grade that secured him a place in the University of Nairobi where he enrolled for a degree in petroleum engineering.

Early this month, he received an unexpected call from the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi to inform him that he had won a four-year scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan).

During an interview on Tuesday at a pre-departure ceremony for 67 Kenyan students awarded the 2015 Chinese government funded scholarships, Mwangi felt honored to visit the Asian Giant and pursue his career dreams.

"When I applied for the Chinese government funded scholarship, it never crossed my mind that I would be among the winners. A call from the Chinese Embassy ushered a new turning point in my academic life," he said.

Mwangi had since childhood cherished the dream of pursuing a prestigious course that would enable him make a difference in the society.

The bubbly youth said that a degree in petroleum engineering will enable him make a positive contribution to his homeland as it leapfrogs to the next level of socio-economic progress.

"Kenya requires a critical mass of trained personnel to help exploit our nascent oil and gas sector. I believe this sector has potential to accelerate economic growth," Mwangi said, adding that he looks forward to work in the government after completing his study tour in China.