Certificate ban: Hundreds of Nigerian students in Benin appeal for leniency
At least 650 Nigerians studying at ESM University, Benin Republic, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu for assistance following the derecognition of the university by the Federal Government.
Recall that the Federal Government recently banned Nigerians from enrolling in some universities in Benin and Togo after discovering that over 22,500 graduate certificates obtained from these universities between 2019 and 2023 are fake.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, scores of students and parents on Thursday marched peacefully to the residence of Chibuzo Chinyere, General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry, OPM, in Port Harcourt to express their concerns.
The students, who are on OPM scholarships, said that the ban had significantly impacted their mental health and urgently pleaded that Tinubu reverse the policy to allow them to continue their education.
A final-year Business Administration student, Hycenth Ikechukwu, expressed dismay at learning of the ban while nearing graduation, saying ESM University was accredited by the Nigerian Government before his enrolment in 2019.
“We urge President Tinubu to intervene and direct the Education Ministry to reconsider this hasty decision that could ruin our lives.
“It is not fair to ask someone in their final year to start at 100-level in Nigerian universities after years of hard work and millions expended,” a teary Ikechukwu said.
Moses Joseph, a 200-level Computer Science student, called on the government to facilitate their transfer to universities in the country.
“We should be allowed to submit our academic transcripts to continue our education in the country.
“I am willing to start at 100-level, if necessary,” he pleaded.
Another student, Wisdom Nweze, said that the de-accreditation of her university has taken a toll on her mental health and urged the federal government to find a solution to the matter.
Justin At least 650 Nigerians studying at ESM University, Benin Republic, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu for assistance following the derecognition of the university by the Federal Government.
Recall that Federal Government recently banned Nigerians from enrolling in some universities in Benin and Togo after discovering that over 22,500 graduate certificates obtained from these universities between 2019 and 2023 are fake.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, scores of students and parents on Thursday marched peacefully to the residence of Chibuzo Chinyere, General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry, OPM, in Port Harcourt to express their concerns.
The students, who are on OPM scholarships, said that the ban had significantly impacted their mental health and urgently pleaded that Tinubu reverse the policy to allow them to continue their education.
A final-year Business Administration student, Hycenth Ikechukwu, expressed dismay at learning of the ban while nearing graduation, saying ESM University was accredited by the Nigerian Government before his enrolment in 2019.
“We urge President Tinubu to intervene and direct the Education Ministry to reconsider this hasty decision that could ruin our lives.
“It is not fair to ask someone in their final year to start at 100-level in Nigerian universities after years of hard work and millions expended,” a teary Ikechukwu said.
Moses Joseph, a 200-level Computer Science student, called on the government to facilitate their transfer to universities in the country.
“We should be allowed to submit our academic transcripts to continue our education in the country.
“I am willing to start at 100-level, if necessary,” he pleaded.
Another student, Wisdom Nweze, said that the de-accreditation of her university has taken a toll on her mental health and urged the federal government to find a solution to the matter.
Justin Hycenth, a blind widow, lamented that her hopes were shattered when she heard the news, which adversely affected her son’s scholarship to study abroad.
“I am begging the government to immediately do something about this and reverse the ban,” she urged.
Chinyere, in his remarks, revealed that the 650 students were part of more than 4,000 OPM scholarship recipients in the U.S. UK, Canada, Turkey, Ethiopia, Cyprus, among others.
He noted that the church had previously confirmed the ESM University’s accreditation.
