A visually impaired widow and over 600 students of ESM University in the Benin Republic, along with their parents, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to lift the ban on the institution’s certificate in Nigeria.
On Friday, the distressed students, who are on scholarships provided by the faith-based organization Omega Power Ministries, and their parents turned to their benefactor, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They expressed that the ban has caused them significant hardship and uncertainty about their future.
With tears in their eyes, the students and parents shared their shock upon learning about the Federal Government’s decision regarding ESM University in the Benin Republic. The undergraduates argued that withdrawing them from the university, especially after their benefactor had heavily invested in their education and they had made considerable progress, would jeopardize their futures.
Speaking to the press, Mrs. Josephine Hycienth, a visually impaired widow and one of the parents of the affected students, expressed her relief when her son received a scholarship to study at the university in the Benin Republic. She lamented the hardships she has faced since her husband’s death and the new challenges brought about by the ban.
She stated, “Nobody cares about us since after my husband’s death. I want President Bola Tinubu to come to our aid. They should not cancel their education.
“If my son is allowed to come back home, nobody will assist in his education, I need the president to help.”
On his part, a student of 200-Level Computer Science in the university, Moses Nicodemus, said he is already in the 200 level going to the 300 level, saying, “I came back to Nigeria for my Industrial Training only to hear that my school is not accredited.”
He added, “That is why we are calling on our President to come to our aid. Our father (the cleric) has spent millions of naira on our education. We need help. We have tried to study to come out with good grades and certificates.”
Chinyere disclosed that before sending the students to the institution, he personally went to the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja to ascertain the credibility of ESM University, and he received a positive affirmation.
While expressing dismay at the development and the turn of events, he appealed to the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to prevail on her husband to consider the danger of abruptly stopping the students’ education.
Chinyere stated that he has invested hugely in the students’ academic development, emphasizing that the funds spent on them were the proceeds from church offerings and tithes which he has vowed to use in capacity building and reaching out to underprivileged people.
He said, “Before I started this scholarship, I personally went to the Ministry of Education, Abuja, to verify if ESM is accredited. Also to verify if the graduates of the school will be able to participate in NYSC in Nigeria. And all these were confirmed positive before I paid the first school fees. It was that guarantee that I got from the education ministry in Nigeria that made me send students on scholarships to the school in Benin Republic.
“Yes, I have many students on scholarships in Nigeria; why send students to Benin and other countries for studies? The issue is that the system (government) made education very strenuous for students, and the government policies made education very difficult. Every day, people come to my house for scholarships: less-privileged, widows, orphans, etc. I have more than 4,000 students currently on scholarships right now. I am not talking about the people that have graduated.
“Only in the Benin Republic alone, I have spent more than N500m from offerings and tithes that come to the church. I am not talking about other places. Do you want this money to go and they will come and start afresh? There are ways you can assist these students by strengthening the policy instead of putting more burdens.
“Please President Bola Tinubu, I know you are a father. Look at these parents, look at these children, and reconsider. Let this policy be reversed so that these children can return to school.
“They are supposed to go back to school this September. Putting in money for them again from the beginning is not possible. These monies are from offerings and tithes to help people.”
