Come to our rescue, Ebonyi overseas scholarship students beg Umahi

Forty-two Ebonyi overseas PhD scholarship students, have appealed to Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, to assist them in offsetting their outstanding tuition fees as their present financial status was posing a great threat to concluding their academic pursuit abroad.

In a letter entitled: “Payment of our Outstanding Tuition Fees and Living Expenses”, written to Governor Umahi and signed by Ejike Chuku, University of Bradford, Jude Ogodo, University of Central Lancashire and Esther Akpoke, University College London, the students who appreciated the Governor for the payment of the last two tranches of their tuition fees (N3, 000, 000 or £5,500) in the past, stressed that since they had come a long way in their research programmes, the government quitting on them was not a palatable option.

“To put the records straight, our tuition fee, especially for those studying in the UK, US and Canada ranges from £11,950 to £30,000. The records are there in our various files at the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board for confirmation. Without being blunt, the payment of £5,500 to each of the 43 beneficiaries of this PhD scholarship is only an attempt given that our tuition fees are from £11,950 and above.

Therefore, no one can emphatically claim that our tuition fees have been paid completely.”

Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Higher Education, Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor explained that the present administration had paid off the arrears of their tuition fees from 2013 till date stressing that the 2018 payment was in progress and would soon hit their accounts.

“For the records, the Governor wasn’t the person that gave them the scholarship but because of his passion for education, when he was sworn-in in 2015, the Governor paid the arrears of 2013 to 2015 to the overseas students; then in 2016, he paid them N3m each; he is not talking about living expenses but tuition fees. In 2017, he equally made similar payment and some graduated in 2015, 2016, 2017.

“For the remaining one, the Governor paid over N150m into the scholarship account and from there they were paid; the balance there is for 2018 and I know there is no way they will say that our Governor is not education-friendly; he has serious passion for the children even those outside; He knows that if you empower someone educationally, he will be assisting in developing other areas of the state.

“The other day in my office, I saw a letter from foreign students; to me the tone of the letter is appreciative of the effort of the Governor and requesting him or reminding him of 2018; you know the letter has not been seen by him and the moment he sees it, he will minute on it directing that the 2018 be paid.

“There is no way the Governor will say he will not pay their tuition fees; it is cordial for them to notify the Governor of any development; they should exercise patience; their letter just came in last week. They should appreciate God to have given us the person of Governor David Umahi.”

According to them, Ebonyi State stands to gain more from this overseas scholarship scheme which has broadened our educational and cultural knowledge and with our intellectual assets, we shall, on completion of our programmes, deploy our expertise to the various areas of our specialties’ in order to contribute to the development of our dear state.

The stranded students further stated that the inability of present administration to offset their arrears had earned the scheme that brought them overseas the negative attribute of “Ebonyi Scholarship Fraud” with damaged credibility as the ripple effects of such development were incalculable.

Continuing the letter read in part: “With this development, our various universities have in the last few months held meetings in their respective board and senates to discuss our debts and sent us final warning letters.

“Again, we note with disappointment and alarm that our universities are being forced to take (these) rash decisions, with known negative consequences and at a breakneck speed for the tuition fees to be paid.

“Sir, the outcomes are extremely risky and consequently put us in a state where we currently and ultimately “fly blind” over our studies and lack ample commitment to continue in the pursuit of world-class education and research.

“Worse still, the inability of the Ebonyi State Government to release our stipends jeopardises our comfort here in the diaspora with many of us racking up accumulated bills with our landlords. This actionable development has left us in a very dangerous position, especially because we have a very limited work permit as students.

“Your Excellency, you are aware that over the years we had written repeatedly, underscoring the detrimental impact of owed tuition fees and stipends by Ebonyi State government to our various universities.

In those letters, we entreated you to urgently pay off the outstanding arrears.

“We are saddened to inform you that the inability of the Ebonyi State Government to offset our arrears has earned the scheme that brought us overseas the negative attribute of ‘Ebonyi scholarship fraud’ with ‘damaged credibility. The ripple effects of this issue are incalculable.

“Your Excellency, we are proud of all that you have been doing to elevate Ebonyi state to an enviable standard. The past three years of your administration have witnessed an unprecedented infrastructural development in our state. We are aware of the State’s meagre allocations.

“We are also aware of your generosity and magnanimity. We are invaluable individuals with huge enthusiasm making relentless efforts towards completing our studies and we deserve to be encouraged. We therefore plead with Your Excellency to come to our rescue as we promise to remain good ambassadors of our dear state.”