PARENTS and over 600 students affected by the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw its recognition of the certificate issued by the ESM University, Benin Republic, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to repeal his decision.
The students, who are beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme of a faith-based organisation, ‘Omega Power Ministries’ bemoaned the ban which has thrown them into uncertainty.
According to them, withdrawing from school where they were already making progress and with so much invested, would put their future in disarray.
A visually impaired widow, Mrs Josephine Hycienth whose child is affected, told newsmen, that the relief she felt when her son benefitted from the scholarship to study at the Benin Republic University, has been wiped away by the ban.
She said, “nobody cared about us since my husband’s death. If my son is allowed to come back home, nobody will assist in his education. I need the president to help.”
Moses Nicodemus, a 200-Level Computer Science student said, “I came back to Nigeria for my Industrial Training in readiness to enter 300-level only to hear that my school is not accredited.
“Our father (the cleric) has spent millions of naira on our education. We have tried to study to come out with good grades and certificates and now this.”
The students are also imploring their benefactor and the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, in Port Harcourt to add his voice and appeal to the president.
Chinyere disclosed that ahead of sponsoring the students, he has approached the Federal Ministry of Education to ascertain the credibility of ESM University, and he was told that the school was accredited.
“It was the guarantee that I got from the education ministry in Nigeria that made me send the students on scholarships to the school in Benin Republic,” he said.
He appealed to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to prevail on the president to reconsider in order to safeguard the future of the students.
The cleric explained that the funds spent on the students were the proceeds from church offerings, which he vowed to use to reach out to the underprivileged.
He said: “I have 4,000 students currently on scholarships right now. I am not talking about the people that have graduated. Many of the students are less-privileged, widows, orphans.
“We have spent more than N500 million from the church. This money will be wasted now and the future of these children uncertain.
“Please President Tinubu, as a father, look at these parents, and their children and reconsider this policy so that these children can return to school this September.“
