Nigerian students in Benin Republic are protesting a certificate ban, while a pastor claims to have spent N500m. Discover the full story behind the unrest.
Over 650 Nigerian students who are studying at ESM University in Benin Republic have appealed to President Bola Tinubu for immediate intervention after the university was derecognized by their home government.
Nigerians have been prohibited by a recent edict from the Federal Government to enroll in specific universities located in Benin and Togo. This decision was made following an alarming discovery that 22,500 fake graduate certificates were issued by these institutions during the period of 2019-2023.
A peaceful protest was staged at the residence of Pastor Chibuzo Chinyere, the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), in Port Harcourt on Thursday by many students and their parents. Concerns about how the ban will affect their mental well-being as well as academic prospects were expressed by these scholarship recipients from OPM. They requested President Tinubu to withdraw this decision so that they could resume pursuing academia without any obstacle ongoing forward.
After hearing about the ban when he was close to graduating, final-year Business Administration student Hycenth Ikechukwu expressed his dismay. He stressed that ESM University had been approved by the Nigerian government when he joined in 2019.
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Ikechukwu tearfully appealed for President Tinubu’s intervention and urged the Ministry of Education to reconsider their sudden decree, which could potentially ruin individuals’ lives. He deemed it unfair to compel a student in his final year, who has dedicated years of hard work and significant finances into earning an education, to restart at 100-level in Nigerian universities.
A 200-level Computer Science student named Moses Joseph has urged the government to aid their relocation to universities in Nigeria, proposing that they should have permission to submit their academic transcripts for local education continuation. He also added that he would even begin from 100-level if required.
Wisdom Nweze, another student who was adversely affected, emphasized the detrimental effects on her mental health due to the university’s derecognition and appealed to the federal government for a solution.
Expressing deep disappointment, Justin Hycenth implored the government to take immediate action and lift the ban that had jeopardized her blind son’s scholarship to study abroad. The widow fervently appealed for a reversal of this decision.
Chinyere revealed that the 650 students who were impacted are just a fraction of the total number of OPM scholarship beneficiaries. The program supports over 4,000 scholars studying in various countries including Canada, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Turkey as well as the United States and UK. He stressed that ESM University’s credentials had been authenticated by the church and its alumni have previously taken part in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Chinyere stated that they made the decision to enroll students in the university after receiving confirmation from the ministry. OPM had invested over N500 million towards these students at ESM University, and it would be unjust to void their investment along with those of the students.
Additionally, he clarified that OPM determined it was preferable to send students overseas because of the obstacles involved in obtaining acceptance into Nigerian universities. These challenges were identified as struggles with passing JAMB and Post UTME examinations.
He cautioned that it would be difficult for them to continue sponsoring students, particularly those in their final year if this policy remains effective. Therefore, instead of prohibiting the college, the Federal Government should contemplate enhancing regulations connected with foreign education.
