President Bola Tinubu has pledged to tackle the challenges Nigerian students face abroad, aligning with his citizen diplomacy policy to enhance their well-being.
Tinubu made this commitment during the fourth diaspora quarterly webinar lecture series, organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The webinar, themed “Well-being of Nigerian Students Abroad: Struggles, Challenges and Solutions,” saw Tinubu represented by Hon. Asefon Sunday Dayo, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement.
Notable attendees included NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, and National Youth Service Corps Director General Brigadier General Y. D. Ahmed.
Addressing the students’ concerns, Dayo acknowledged the challenges they face and assured them that the government is diligently working to address these issues. He encouraged students to create platforms to discuss their challenges and for leaders to escalate these issues to the appropriate authorities.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the recurring issue of non-payment of obligatory fees to scholarship students abroad and stressed the need for a permanent solution.
Prof. Oloyede reassured students that the Board would continue to guide them in choosing reputable institutions and courses abroad. He warned against enrolling in unaccredited universities and advised proper checks before selecting foreign institutions. He also discussed guidelines for reabsorbing returning students into Nigerian institutions, in line with the Arusha declaration, which allows returning students to join at most the second year of their home institutions.
Brigadier General Ahmed, represented by Omotade Folorunso, emphasized the importance of the webinar in addressing students’ well-being, a crucial factor for Nigeria’s future. He cautioned students to enroll only in accredited institutions abroad, as the Corps will not mobilize students from fake institutions for national service.
Comrade Juwon Ojo Fayomi, President of NANS-Diaspora, appreciated NiDCOM for its responsiveness to the challenges faced by Nigerian students abroad and expressed optimism that the webinar would offer better solutions.
Yemi Soile, Head Coordinator of Nigeria Students Union in the United Kingdom, highlighted urgent issues needing government attention and praised Dabiri-Erewa for her support. Uche Okugo, President of the Network of Nigerians in Canada, also appealed for government assistance, citing overwhelming challenges.
Prof. Hakeem Tijani of Morgan State University commended NiDCOM for the webinar and its quality stakeholders. He advised students to be proactive and not rely solely on the government, offering his mentorship to help them navigate challenges abroad.
The webinar provided a platform for students worldwide to voice their concerns about scholarship payments, NYSC registration, professional exams, racial discrimination, consular issues, and more, with relevant stakeholders addressing these issues adequately.
