We wish to use this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari(GCFR) on his historic victory at the polls and inform him that we are confident of his ability to bring the desired change.

At the same time, we would appreciate his swift response to our situation, because we believe it will be for the best interest of the country, both in the medium and long term. This is considering the economic challenges confronting the Nation in recent times.
We were awarded the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development(PRESSID) which goal is to build a "critical mass of individuals for the development of the country through innovation and technology".

It was initiated by the immediate past Government and administered by the National Universities Commission(NUC). The scholarship was meant for the "best of the best" in that only First Class graduates with Nigerian origin were invited to apply. Please note that we are the third edition recipients and as part of our selection process, we undertook a rigorous Computer Based Test(CBT) and our scores were displayed immediately after submission from which 102 candidates were selected for the Award. Names of shortlisted candidates were later published on National Dailies (See Daily Trust, 16th April 2015, Page 54) and we were asked to seek admission into any of the top 100 universities in the world. Virtually all of us have gotten the admission and fulfilled other requirements.

Unfortunately, more than six month after the shortlisting, no contact has been made about our awards. This development has hampered our ability to process our visa and accommodation before the August and September resumption dates of most schools in the UK/US.
We therefore humbly seek your urgent approval for the release of our award certificates and necessary funding, as we have incurred huge costs pursuing the admissions, and the scholarship in general.

Finally, We reiterate our confidence that your administration will empower the youth and will encourage excellence in all ramifications by innovating new programmes and sustaining positive policies of past administrations such as the PRESSID programme.
Thank you.

cc lalasticlala

I thought the government wants to convert the PRESSID scholars to PTDF?

DSSHQ:
I thought the government wants to convert the PRESSID scholars to PTDF?

They want to introduce quota system to PRESSID.

DSSHQ:
I thought the government wants to convert the PRESSID scholars to PTDF?

I dont think so. Both are separate scholarship with different requirements and criteria

sunnyb0b0:


They want to introduce quota system to PRESSID.

At least they should first sort out those that have been awarded before they change the criteria. Your submission is not far-fetched considering the fact that even the Sultan of Sokoto and most Northern elites have been against pressid from day one. Pressid does not use quota system like you have with most other Nigerian scholarship it is strictly by merit.

CCsurplus007:


At least they should first sort out those that have been awarded before they change the criteria. Your submission is not far-fetched considering the fact that even the Sultan of Sokoto and most Northern elites have been against pressid from day one. Pressid does not use quota system like you have with most other Nigerian scholarship it is strictly by merit.

This bunch of retards are dragging this country backwards. This is one of the reasons I wanted Jonathan to win.

Imagine.. That's not good.. Try n take it to the press..

PRESSID is one of the policies that I would recommend the present administration to key into and continue from where the past administration stopped. For the first time in our national history, we have a program devoid of federal character sentiments, strictly on merit, to breed set of individuals who will drive this nation for future generations.

I do not buy into the idea of revisiting the process of selection, we have enough scholarship based on character. Let the present administration maintain this merit course for the sake of nation building in earnest.

sunnyb0b0:


They want to introduce quota system to PRESSID.

The political atmosphere of the nation with regards to appointment into various key positions does not in any way reflect quota system. I wonder why quota/Federal character should be applied to pressid then. Pressid is for first class graduates not withstanding your state of origin or university. Once one graduated with first class s/he should be able to compete with any other person. This quota issh pisses me off. There are lots of other scholarship where quota 's been applied. Lets for once maintain a strict merit system; this engenders competition and thus brings out the best in us. If you start your program in any of the top 100 schools approved by NUC, you not gonna tell them to lower the standard for you because you are from Sokoto or Yobe, or because you graduated from XYZ university!

This present govt prefers to send people to mecca/Israel to sending them for studies abroad. They dnt use merits whenever it is against them. They are not interested in the youth; u must b 70yrs before buhari listens to u.

I would recommend this post is moved to FP. You can never tell, one APC bigwig might see it and rake up on it.


If the program must be scrapped, I think it's fair this batch already awarded should be sponsored 1st.

Nigeria is broke for now

These guys are first class. I expect that at least half of them would have gotten scholarships from their university of choice by now and moved on. When govt responds it will be a plus.

However, govt should not abandon her citizens half-way. NUC, do the needful.

Additionally, one mumu thing by GEJ administration is that he didn't structure things for sustainability. If it is well spelt out in 2015 budget via NUC, it will be uneasy for new govt to throw it out. But was it?

I wish you luck, hoping PRESSID fund wasn't used for campaign or Diezani largesse.

Nigeria Government please invest more in education for the growth and economic developments of this country. We can do it

Yes they are separate but they wanted to merge them together because the current government does not buy the idea of PRESSID at the moment.

CCsurplus007:


I dont think so. Both are separate scholarship with different requirements and criteria

LordMecuzy:
Nigeria is broke for now

Hw did u knw, are u d minister of finance?. Hw come plenty people go to Mecca to stone Arabic devil on their sponsorship.

LordMecuzy:
Nigeria is broke for now

Hw did u knw, are u d minister of finance?. Hw come plenty people went to Mecca to stone Arabic devil on their sponsorship. Thousands are set for Israel right now. It is clear that pilgrimages are more important than education.

victor54:

Hw did u knw, are u d minister of finance?. Hw come plenty people go to Mecca to stone Arabic devil on their sponsorship. Thousands are set for Israel right now. It is clear that pilgrimages are more important than education.

That's Nigeria for you

The president would surely address this. I trust he's very committed to the growth of this nation so it's in the best interest of this country that these bright wonderful scholars get what they deserve, they have earned this through hardwork and sheer commitment.

My advise tho, try to get this plight on linda ikeji, only Google is visited more often than that blog.

Dear President,you have been excellent so far, do continue the good works by ensuring the pressid scholars achieve their dream of contributing to the sustainable development of this nation, they got their admissions secured in the best schools in the world all that is left is your approval. The quota system is good for federal character but this case deserves an exception cos we really need the best of the best irrespective of origin,we are one nigeria...besides the current set have earned this already so it's only fair that any proposed adjustments are implemented from the next set of excellent scholars.

GOD Bless Nigeria.

lalasticlala seun help us take this to FP!

Chucksty:
PRESSID is one of the policies that I would recommend the present administration to key into and continue from where the past administration stopped. For the first time in our national history, we have a program devoid of federal character sentiments, strictly on merit, to breed set of individuals who will drive this nation for future generations.

I do not buy into the idea of revisiting the process of selection, we have enough scholarship based on character. Let the present administration maintain this merit course for the sake of nation building in earnest.

Well said.

cc: lalasticlala and seun pls do the needful

it will be in the best interest of the country to ensure continuity of programmes like PRESSID for sustainable development because the programme selects bright students who has demonstrated their academic prowess in various fields of study. its the only merit based scholarship in Nigeria and I hope this present administration gives it necessary support and approval especially for the 2015/2016 edition which has concluded the selection and not yet awarded.

It is very sad that dy want to drag federal character into this thing.... If dy want research and innovation... the award should be left for best of the best... How will someone with 30 go ahead of a 60 because of one nonsense policyy..if federal character is even applying to everything it shouldn't happen in academics... Since federal character no apply to this administration's appointment it shouldn't apply to pressid.... Dy want pressid scholars that will spill abi ....

There should be continuity in government. Pressid is a good initiative that must be sustained. The President should as a matter of urgency approve the fund for the third edition of Pressid.

We are really in a messed up country. How can a scholarship that has already been announced on network news, published on National Dailies since April be withheld without any communication to the successful scholars (smh).

Guys, please let's get this published on a national daily. Let's speak up on this matter !!! Maybe PMB doesn't even know about this.

Our government should please in the name of God answer these short listed candidate, its only in Nigeria all this mess is happening. They should please sit down on their table and come to a con censor to administer into this situation. These people have really tried by indulging till this present moment... Na wa oooo.... God will help us all.... My honourable elites God will make better ways.... If not because of this reluctant appointment of ministers I believe by name something should have been done.... Udodi...

ayinlaolajide:
Guys, please let's get this published on a national daily. Let's speak up on this matter !!! Maybe PMB doesn't even know about this.

That's just the problem.

This should hit fp. cc lalasticala do the needful please.

dany2k:
it will be in the best interest of the country to ensure continuity of programmes like PRESSID for sustainable development because the programme selects bright students who has demonstrated their academic prowess in various fields of study. its the only merit based scholarship in Nigeria and I hope this present administration gives it necessary support and approval especially for the 2015/2016 edition which has concluded the selection and not yet awarded.

A lot of things are just wrong in this country. we would get there

It will amount to outright insensitivity on the part of Buhari-led administration to abandon this wonderful initiative on the altar of politics.

Lalasticlala and Seun pls this is a FP material.

Sometimes I seriously wonder what Buhari does in aso rock all day... Imagine the frustration of these youths left hanging outside their fatherland