The Niit Scholarship, "a Mirage:

All through the month of July last year, the music was everywhere; the electronic media, the national dailies, billboards, the walls and notice boards of some higher institutions were carrying a new look. The picture of a female archer holding a bow in her left arm, carrying an arrow sheath (inscribed various software programmes) containing four arrows. Boldly written beside it is the 8th NIIT Nigerian scholarship. Like most scholarships, the forms were given for free and people were even allowed to fill for their friends and loved ones.
              
Yes, 21 of July 2007 was the day stipulated for the exam. Thousands of candidates flock the various venues nationwide. Particularly, Delta Career College, the Delta state/ warri center recorded over 5000 candidates, from across length and breath of the state. Like the desert mirage, the big blow came when the result was released, and candidates who passed certain cut-off mark (which we don’t know of) were asked to come with a minimum of N5000.00 for interview. This was just the beginning.
 
The purported scholarship was no longer what people thought it was. The organizers claimed it was a certain kind of waiver, where you pay according to what you score. I paused for a moment and thought for while, “this is an insult”, I said to myself, a game played on the intelligence of candidates who sat for the exam. The so-called scholarship has now become merchandise being auctioned for the highest bidder, claiming the complete scholarship is only given to those who score 100% in the exam, a situation that is almost impossible. This generated a controversy in the NIIT warri centre to the extent that a law enforcement agent  was summoned to one of  NIIT’s agent, charging him to explain why such an amount of be collected for what is presumed to be a scholarship. That aside, u wouldn’t believe that some individuals who never sat for the exams took the places of eligible candidates who couldn’t afford the fee; what then is the need for the exams?

Yours truly is not against any programme being organized by any organization, group or Institution to improve on the IT potentials of the Nigerian Nation. I believe there should be clear disparity on what is what. There are a hundred and one words in English vocabulary that could be used to explain what NIIT meant. Quite a number of Governmental and non-Governmental organizations, Multinationals in the oil sector have organized and still organize scholarship till this day. This wasn’t the face they took.
 
Indeed NIIT is a giant, a name to identify with when it comes to IT. This is evident on the number of Microsoft system Engineers and oracle specialists they have produced. In fact, they are a world-class group. But it paradoxical for one to want to believe if they don’t understand the meaning of the word “SCHOLASHIP”.
 As yours truly later gathered, it was termed a scholarship so as to increase the number of people who would sit for the exam, thereby increasing the number of those who can afford their breath taking fees. Am not against this, but the real thing should have been made open in order to save time, resource and other engagements.

Now another year has come and the same music that was in the air last year is still drumming, even with a higher frequency, chanting that same word “scholarship”. I would like NIIT to explain to Nigerians what they understand by scholarship, or perhaps it has a different meaning in India.

Well brethren, if you have the time and capacity to go for the July 11th exam, please do. It is obvious you followed this message to this extent because you are concerned. But bear in mind that you are not going for a scholarship. Just like the popular police saying “u will explain when you get to the station”, NIIT will explain to you what you came for when you finally pass the exam

 Innocent.  (Warri, Delta State) (akoinno@yahoo.com)
 

Son, i hope you've learned the valuable lesson - there is no free lunch, but plenty of marketing.

lol Bro, i didn't have the patience to read your entire article, but i read the first and last paragraph, and i have to say the las paragraph is 100% reality, na until u reach NIIT station u go know your offense, lol. The NIIT thingy is NOT a Scholarship, its a discount or waiver. Been part of the NIIT family for years and its sad to say that the terms these people use most times are deceptive.

they are tricksters

actually i agree wit u innno
once u pass d exam u are told 2 pay a sum of 5k if u are intrested
den d 2nd process is 2 hav lectures on d courses dey hav
and u are told 2 pay half of d price dependin on d course u choose.
don't cal it scholarship EXHORTION.