A visually impaired widow, along with over 600 students from ESM University in the Benin Republic and their parents, is urgently appealing to President Bola Tinubu to overturn the ban on the institution’s certificate in Nigeria.
The affected students, beneficiaries of a scholarship from a faith-based organization, gathered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to express their distress and the challenges the ban has imposed on their education. They were astounded by the Federal Government’s recent decision and fear for their academic futures.
One parent, Mrs. Josephine Hycienth, shared her heartbreak over the situation, highlighting the relief she felt when her son was awarded the scholarship. She pleaded for intervention, emphasizing that the cancellation of educational opportunities would leave her family without support.
Moses Nicodemus, a 200-Level Computer Science student, voiced his concerns after returning to Nigeria for an Industrial Training only to learn about the accreditation issue. He and his peers are calling on President Tinubu for assistance, noting the significant financial investment already made by their benefactor, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere.
Chinyere has passionately advocated for the students, revealing that he verified the university’s accreditation with the Federal Ministry of Education before sending students abroad. Disheartened by the recent turn of events, he is appealing to the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to recognize the potential devastation this ban could cause to the students’ futures.
He stressed the importance of education for underprivileged students, noting that he has invested over N500 million in scholarships from church offerings and tithes, aimed at uplifting those in need. Chinyere urged the government to reconsider its stance, allowing these students to continue their education without further financial burden.
The students, who are ready to resume classes in September, are counting on the President’s compassion and leadership to reverse this decision and facilitate their return to academic life.
