Recipients of the Rivers State Overseas Scholarship Scheme are facing hard times following the suspension of the scheme, CHUKWUDI AKASIKE writes
THERE is no doubt that all is not well
with recipients of the Rivers State Overseas Scholarship scheme. The
beneficiaries are not just going through hard times and trying to make
ends meet; they are finding it difficult to survive in the United
Kingdom and other parts of Europe.
with recipients of the Rivers State Overseas Scholarship scheme. The
beneficiaries are not just going through hard times and trying to make
ends meet; they are finding it difficult to survive in the United
Kingdom and other parts of Europe.
With several months of unpaid
allowances, rents and tuitions, some of the students, whose parents
could not foot the bills, have since returned home without completing
their studies.
allowances, rents and tuitions, some of the students, whose parents
could not foot the bills, have since returned home without completing
their studies.
While some stayed back because their
parents could pay their tuition and other expenses, others have taken up
menial jobs to survive.
parents could pay their tuition and other expenses, others have taken up
menial jobs to survive.
According to one of the recipients who
is studying at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, the past
16 months have been hectic, as he had to clean students’ hostels in
order to earn some money to feed himself.
is studying at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, the past
16 months have been hectic, as he had to clean students’ hostels in
order to earn some money to feed himself.
The student, who simply gave his name as
Julius for fear of victimisation, added that combining menial job with
his studies had drastically affected his health.
Julius for fear of victimisation, added that combining menial job with
his studies had drastically affected his health.
Julius, who said he was in the first
class grade before the state government stopped the scholarship
initiative, noted that he stopped doing the menial job when it became
obvious that it was affecting his health.
class grade before the state government stopped the scholarship
initiative, noted that he stopped doing the menial job when it became
obvious that it was affecting his health.
“Personally, I had to stop working
because combining work with my studies affected my mental health. I
suffered depression and my studies suffered greatly.
because combining work with my studies affected my mental health. I
suffered depression and my studies suffered greatly.
“I was a first class student, but
because of the struggle to feed; having to work and go to school, my
performance dropped to second class lower. I had to stop working because
of my health and since then, my result has improved. I am now a second
class upper student.
because of the struggle to feed; having to work and go to school, my
performance dropped to second class lower. I had to stop working because
of my health and since then, my result has improved. I am now a second
class upper student.
“I was cleaning the students’ hostels.
The money was only for feeding and not for rent and tuition. What I was
paid then was not enough to take care of such needs,” Julius, currently
working as an ambassador for the university, told our correspondent on
Sunday.
The money was only for feeding and not for rent and tuition. What I was
paid then was not enough to take care of such needs,” Julius, currently
working as an ambassador for the university, told our correspondent on
Sunday.
The young man, whose ambassadorial job
entails persuading other Nigerian students to register with the
university, also revealed that a Good Samaritan had been paying his
rent.
entails persuading other Nigerian students to register with the
university, also revealed that a Good Samaritan had been paying his
rent.
Noting that the state government last
paid their allowances in December 2014, he lamented that some of his
colleagues had returned home.
paid their allowances in December 2014, he lamented that some of his
colleagues had returned home.
Another beneficiary of the scheme at the
University of Szeged in Hungary said, on the condition of anonymity,
that since the state government’s withdrawal of the gesture, life had
been difficult for her.
University of Szeged in Hungary said, on the condition of anonymity,
that since the state government’s withdrawal of the gesture, life had
been difficult for her.
On her survival strategy, she said her parents had been taking care of her tuition and other allowances at a high cost.
“In Hungary, we are not allowed to work
and since they (Rivers State Government) have not paid anybody for some
time now, my parents are doing everything for me. But the truth is that
it has been difficult. We are 17 in number from my state that came into
the university in Hungary,” the student, who is in her third year, said.
and since they (Rivers State Government) have not paid anybody for some
time now, my parents are doing everything for me. But the truth is that
it has been difficult. We are 17 in number from my state that came into
the university in Hungary,” the student, who is in her third year, said.
The student, who appealed to the state
government to review its decision and offset their bills, noted that
more students would soon return home due to their inability to pay their
tuition and rents.
government to review its decision and offset their bills, noted that
more students would soon return home due to their inability to pay their
tuition and rents.
She said, “We are aware that the economy
is bad back home, but we are appealing to the governor to try his best
to take care of our needs. Many of us are suffering here. Some of us,
who have gone past second year, do not want to return home. If we return
home without getting our certificates, it means the efforts made so far
would amount to a waste.”
is bad back home, but we are appealing to the governor to try his best
to take care of our needs. Many of us are suffering here. Some of us,
who have gone past second year, do not want to return home. If we return
home without getting our certificates, it means the efforts made so far
would amount to a waste.”
Zinah Barile, who studies at the
University of Huddersfield, the UK, told our correspondent in a
telephone interview that many of them on the scholarship list in the UK,
had taken to babysitting and other menial jobs in order to feed and
clothe themselves.
University of Huddersfield, the UK, told our correspondent in a
telephone interview that many of them on the scholarship list in the UK,
had taken to babysitting and other menial jobs in order to feed and
clothe themselves.
Barile said, “It has been very terrible
for me and my friends. Academically and financially, we have had severe
setbacks over the past few months. Tuition is unpaid and we have not
received funds for accommodation for the past 16 months. Some
universities have suspended their students. Some of us who would have
been in final year in June are already in Nigeria.
for me and my friends. Academically and financially, we have had severe
setbacks over the past few months. Tuition is unpaid and we have not
received funds for accommodation for the past 16 months. Some
universities have suspended their students. Some of us who would have
been in final year in June are already in Nigeria.
“The suspension of the scheme is
heartbreaking. There is news circulating that it is only children and
relatives of politicians that are enjoying the scholarship. That is a
lie. I am one of the beneficiaries that was selected on merit.
heartbreaking. There is news circulating that it is only children and
relatives of politicians that are enjoying the scholarship. That is a
lie. I am one of the beneficiaries that was selected on merit.
“Our parents now have to face the task
of sending us money, despite the falling rate of naira. I will advise
the state government to have a re-think and allow those of us already
enjoying the offer to complete the programne.”
of sending us money, despite the falling rate of naira. I will advise
the state government to have a re-think and allow those of us already
enjoying the offer to complete the programne.”
Apart from interviews with our
correspondent, an online post on Facebook by three Rivers students at
the University of Szeged, Hungary, named Osaki, Precious and Cynthia,
also painted a pitiable picture of the challenges they were facing.
correspondent, an online post on Facebook by three Rivers students at
the University of Szeged, Hungary, named Osaki, Precious and Cynthia,
also painted a pitiable picture of the challenges they were facing.
They said, “We are currently third year
medical students at the University of Szeged, Hungary, and we need your
assistance. In 2011, the Rivers State Government offered us
scholarships after going through a series of screening. We got admitted
to the university in 2013.
medical students at the University of Szeged, Hungary, and we need your
assistance. In 2011, the Rivers State Government offered us
scholarships after going through a series of screening. We got admitted
to the university in 2013.
“Until about a year ago, things were
going well for us and life at the university was great. Then we stopped
getting funds from our sponsor. The state government has literally
abandoned us to fend for ourselves in a foreign country. Because we did
not pay our tuition in the first semester of our third year, the school
has terminated our status as students. Right now, we are on the verge of
going back to Nigeria without completing our studies (four years,
including this present year).
going well for us and life at the university was great. Then we stopped
getting funds from our sponsor. The state government has literally
abandoned us to fend for ourselves in a foreign country. Because we did
not pay our tuition in the first semester of our third year, the school
has terminated our status as students. Right now, we are on the verge of
going back to Nigeria without completing our studies (four years,
including this present year).
“We have exhausted all available
options. This is our last resort to raise money to finish our programme.
We have come so far not to give up now. We believe that with your help,
we can achieve our dreams.”
options. This is our last resort to raise money to finish our programme.
We have come so far not to give up now. We believe that with your help,
we can achieve our dreams.”
Even as the students cry out for help,
the state government does not seem to be in a hurry to rescind its
decision. Governor Nyesom Wike, for the umpteenth time, had described
the scholarship scheme as a fraud. Last December, the governor said that
the scheme was a conduit to swindle the state.
the state government does not seem to be in a hurry to rescind its
decision. Governor Nyesom Wike, for the umpteenth time, had described
the scholarship scheme as a fraud. Last December, the governor said that
the scheme was a conduit to swindle the state.
According to Wike, the past
administration sidelined the state scholarship board and appropriated
its powers to award scholarships through the state Sustainable
Development Agency, which engaged the services of consultants to source
beneficiaries of the scheme.
administration sidelined the state scholarship board and appropriated
its powers to award scholarships through the state Sustainable
Development Agency, which engaged the services of consultants to source
beneficiaries of the scheme.
“From the report I have, it is a scam.
Why carry out the scheme through consultants when you have the
scholarship board? From the report I have, if N2bn were to be the fees,
N900m was paid to the consultants. This is a scam. Any money for
scholarship must pass through the scholarship board.
Why carry out the scheme through consultants when you have the
scholarship board? From the report I have, if N2bn were to be the fees,
N900m was paid to the consultants. This is a scam. Any money for
scholarship must pass through the scholarship board.
“Why did you establish a scholarship
board only to hand over the selection exercise to consultants? It is not
acceptable. There is no how I can continue with that. That is not a
good policy. So, anything that has to do with scholarship will go to the
scholarship board,” the governor said.
board only to hand over the selection exercise to consultants? It is not
acceptable. There is no how I can continue with that. That is not a
good policy. So, anything that has to do with scholarship will go to the
scholarship board,” the governor said.
Despite taking this position, our
correspondent learnt that the governor had released some funds to cater
to the needs of some of the students, especially those in final year.
correspondent learnt that the governor had released some funds to cater
to the needs of some of the students, especially those in final year.
Meanwhile, attempts to get the response
of the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kainye Ebeku, on the
matter failed, as a man, who identified himself as his personal
assistant answered the call and advised that a text message be forwarded
to his phone.
of the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kainye Ebeku, on the
matter failed, as a man, who identified himself as his personal
assistant answered the call and advised that a text message be forwarded
to his phone.
But the commissioner did not respond to the message sent to him by our correspondent as of 6pm on Monday.