Challenges facing Nigerians students in diaspora surmountable, Tinubu assures

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his readiness to address all the challenges Nigerians studying abroad are facing, thus enhancing their well-being and in line with his citizen diplomacy policy.
Tinubu reiterated this assurance during the fourth Diaspora quarterly webinar lecture series hosted by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) with the theme: “ Well-being of Nigeria Students Abroad: (Struggles, Challenges and Solutions).”
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Student Engagement, Hon. Asefon Sunday Dayo, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar and Brig. Gen. Y.D. Ahmed, the Director General of NYSC, the President insisted that all the fears of the students will be allayed.
Responding to some of the issues raised by the students, Hon. Dayo admitted that President Bola Tinubu is aware of challenges students are facing abroad, stressing that the government is working tediously to ameliorate it.
Dayo also urged the students to create more platforms to discuss and address these challenges and for their leaders to escalate the situations to the appropriate authorities.
While recalling some of the impactful interventions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on students welfare, he urged them (the students) to be of good behaviour by being good ambassadors of Nigeria in their respective countries of abode.
A statement by Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols.NiDCOM, quoted Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as reiterating the Commission’s commitment to supporting Nigerian students abroad, within its mandate and ensuring that their welfare are being taken care of.
She said “we know there is a lot that still needs to be done and we are dedicated to ensuring the well-being of the diaspora including students wherever they may be.
“I assure you we will continue to work tirelessly to address the challenges faced by our students abroad”, she said.
On the issues of non-payment of scholarships awards of some students abroad by the Federal Government agencies and some state governments, Dabiri-Erewa explained the interventionist roles played by her and some of the bottlenecks causing the delays with the assurance that the obstacles would soon be cleared,.
She advised all the defaulting government agencies to live up to their expectations.
In his contributions, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar,Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), assured the students that the Board will continue to guide the students especially on the choice of institutions of learning abroad as well as courses offered.
Oloyede advised the students and their parents to beware of fake and unaccredited universities abroad urging them to do proper check before sending their wards to foreign Universities.
On the reabsorption of some returning students in Nigeria higher institutions, he counselled the students to avail themselves on the guidelines especially in line with Arusha declaration which stipulates that returning students cannot be fixed in more than second year in the home institutions.