I am one of this scholars and the pain is unbearable. Please help us make this viral.

One year after the Nigerian Senate moved to intervene in the non-payment of tuition fees and living allowances of Nigerians studying abroad on Federal Government scholarship, the scholars are still stranded in various universities across the globe.

According to Ayoola Shoneye, one of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID) scholars, he and his colleagues are now in huge debt, while many of them have had to drop out of school to find other means of survival.

There seems to be no hope in sight as the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) gave no assurance of payment, after a meeting with a director of the scholarship board.

Chinedu Ugwu, another scholar who was recently in a meeting with the director, told SaharaReporters that he was told funds had not been released for their programmes.

PRESSID was an initiative of former President Goodluck Jonathan to train some of the best brains in Nigeria in different development sectors, so that they can be better equipped to foster innovations across these sectors.

However, trouble began in 2016 when the Federal Government failed to pay both tuition and living stipends of the scholars.

“The problem started when the PMB administration gave a directive that the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) should manage all Federal Government scholarships,” Shoneye told SaharaReporters.

The students wrote a letter to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in August 2017, saying since the beginning of the 2016/17 session, majority of the PRESSID scholars — part-sponsored by TETFund — had not received payment for their tuition fees and living allowances.

In the letter, signed by Oluwadamilola Oluwole, they said: “All our efforts to reach officials at the National Universities Commission (NUC) who have been our primary point of contact and scholarship administrators have been futile, as they have stopped replying our emails. Our various academic institutions have also reached out to them, all to no avail."

Also, prior to their letter to the Vice-President, the students had written to President Muhammadu Buhari; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora and Youth Affairs; and Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, but got no definite solution.

A flicker of light was, however, flashed on their predicament in November 2017 when Senate President Bukola Saraki held a meeting with representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for the welfare of Nigerians.

The Senate President directed FSB to immediately compile the list of all Nigerians on scholarships across the 25 best universities in the world with their due entitlements, so that the Senate could make appropriations for their payment.

It has been a year since this directive was given and though there was provision for the payment in the 2018 budget, FSB has continuously informed the scholars that funds have not been made available for them, Shoneye told SaharaRepoters.

“FSB included our outstanding and present living expenses in the 2018 Federal budget," he said. "However, nothing is forthcoming and we are afraid as the election period draws near. At present, some of us do odd jobs to get bills paid and survive at least.”

Shoneye lamented that some of his colleagues have been resorting to menial labour to keep themselves in school, while some have been grounded in Nigeria, unable to proceed with the PhD programmes.

All attempts to reach Lateef Olagunju, the acting director of the scholarship board were unsuccessful; calls and text messages sent to his phone number went unanswered.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/31/nigerians-jonathan-govt-scholarships-abandoned-abroad-resort-menial-jobs

This is so sad.
So Goodluck Jonathan did not consider these ones before he timidly threw in the throwel.

And some misfits dare refer to him as a hero of democracy.
Shame on you GEJ.

Other dimwits will now blame Buhari for this people's misfortune.
It is right of Buhari for not interceding. PRESSID was a GEJ initiative.

These stranded scholarship recipients should channel their complaints to GEJ who is morally obligated to ensure their total welfare.
This is not about PDP or APC, it is about being responsible.

"He Slays Better Than Some Girls" - Toyin Lawani Belittles Nina After Unfollowing Her (PHOTO)

See: https://www.gistvic.com/2018/11/he-slays-better-than-some-girls-toyin.html

Our politicians are not fit for purpose.

Sorry guys.

Na Wetin good for them o.

Nigeria doesn't have government that cares about education.

If we are using 3.5mil a month to feed one person, ASUU's demands can't be met even though there are trillions reported missing from a certain money and more missing from an NLNG proceed, make them no look government face o.

Hustle over there, finish your studies and remain there, nothing here for now.

It either we aticulated or Biafra

APC Sponsored this!!! They wanna dent GEJ's image.

q

At least they are abroad....I envy them tho

.

The original poster should shut up.

The holy book says , one of the fruits of the spirit is long suffering.

Your long suffering just started.

Some wailers will still blame Buhari for this

Buhari and quality education are poles apart

Luvky People

NwaAmaikpe:

I stand with his opinion...

In 2015: ₦18,000 minimum wage was worth $91.4 (@ N197/$)


In 2018: ₦30,000 is worth $82.9 (₦362/$)
Nigerian worker is over 10% poorer than he was in 2015 even with ₦12,000 increase.

Even those under the local scheme of the FSB have not been paid..

BUHAR IS WICKED

politicians are good deceivers.

Wike did the same , to students amaechi sent abroad , our politician should learn to continue projects

ShakurMY:
Some wailers will still blame Buhari for this

Noo Maybe we should blame Jubrin!!

Did u understand the write up at all?

A man that is brain dead does not care about your education. He went abroad to study but came back without certificate. He wants you to do same

They should come bk na
Dey dere dey carry banner uppandan

ShakurMY:
Some wailers will still blame Buhari for this

whose fault is it then?

See what Buhari has done to them now.

Shedboy:
Cybershed Concepts, a relatively New App Developers Start up has taken it upon themselves to launch an authentic Football Predictions Android Application for
all Sport lovers in Nigeria.

Features of the App

Daily Codes: 23 Bet codes to various well analysed matches are placed within the app every 24hours

In App Betting: Users can place bet directly from the app using the "Place Bet" button.


Share Codes with friends and best of all

All bets are analysed by experts who knows the betting game well.

Download and Thank me later


The Betnaija Predictions app is available on google play

Install
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wBetnaijaPredictionsapp

Do you mean to say that he owner of Bet9ja will relocate back to his village because I hate it when bet cut..

on4a:
I am one of this scholars and the pain is unbearable. Please help us make this viral.





http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/31/nigerians-jonathan-govt-scholarships-abandoned-abroad-resort-menial-jobs

sad

make we change position.. I sure say by now. Them no go sabi book again

Pls face your education, buhari just acquired waec certificate so he doesn't understand what u guys meant until he writes jamb....

mikaael:


At least they are abroad....I envy them tho

until you are stranded abroad