Wike Releases N485m For Overseas Scholarship

by

Kevin Nengia

The Rivers State Government has released another N485million to offset scholarship fees owed by the immediate past administration, following threat by some schools to eject students studying abroad.

This follows the N712million earlier released in July this year by Governor Nyesom Wike shortly after assuming office in May.

A director in the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Godwin Poi responsible for managing the funds while thanking Governor Wike for responding to the plight of the students revealed that the state owes N1.6billion on foreign scholarships.

He told newsmen that the money so far released will be used judiciously especially for schools that need urgent attention, while noting that another N185million is needed to offset more bills.

Mr.Poi said, “ we are in constant communication with His Excellency and we will continue to engage with government, students and the schools to ensure that the future of the students is very important to us as a state and we are doing all we can to get the money and pay for them.”

The RSDDA director revealed that over 300 students studying abroad under scholarship are affected with the situation, but promised that  with the money released, efforts are being made to ensure that they are not ejected by their schools.

The Tide recalls that Governor, Nyesom Wike, had ordered the payment of N512 million to offset the debts owed by the students to enable them sit for their final examinations and eventually graduated sometime in July.

The students, who were sent overseas to study under the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) special scholarship by the Chibuike Amaechi’s administration, were stranded due to non-payment of their fees.

Efforts by the stranded students and their parents to get the RSSDA and Amaechi to pay the fees were not successful and the students faced the risk of deportation as they were not allowed to sit for their final exams.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Wike, Opunabo Inko-Taria, said the governor ordered the immediate payment of the sum of N512million to offset the debts owed by the final year students to enable them sit for their final exams and eventually graduate.

He also said the governor had earlier paid N200 million as part of the money owed by the students which brings the total sum paid by the Wike’s administration to N712million.

According to him, the gesture by the governor has elicited reactions from many who praised him for being sensitive to the plight of the students and their parents.

He said the payment of the fees was not just securing the future of the students, but that of the state as well since they are the future leaders.

Culled from www.thetidenewsonline.com