News
Nigerian students in the context of global conflicts
By Zainab Suleiman Okino
In February 2022, the Ukraine-Russia war broke out and left about 16,000 African students studying there stranded, among which are at least 1000 Nigerian students. Many were traumatised for days before they were finally evacuated back home, some others found their way to nearby Poland, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and Europe generally despite the racial abuse at the borders and repatriation difficulties for those who headed home to Nigeria. Yet, others opted for online classes, which only provided temporary succour for some and unable to fill the void for practical oriented courses like medicine and engineering.
I have a colleague-family friend whose daughter opted for a repatriation to Nigeria, in line with her father’s stand not to allow a young lady roam from one foreign country to the other in the name of studying medicine in a foreign university. It turned out to be a mistake, because more than one year after, his daughter is still at home and no university here in Nigeria has agreed to allow her start from where she stopped in Ukraine in form of transfer, and those that agreed are too pricey for him. Almost all, especially public universities require her to write JAMB and start afresh. As you would expect, the girl in question is depressed and her over-protective father is becoming desperate and anxious.
Our educational policy seems antiquated; otherwise, with authentic transcripts, what does it take to transfer from one univasity to another. The world is aware of the war in Ukraine, as a perfect excuse. Why is Nigeria different, when some Nigerian students who succeeded in relocating to other countries, merely continued where they stopped?
Anyway, among those who resolved to remain in Europe is one Desmond Chinaza Muokwudo, who in a BBC report struggled with finance and unemployment back home before he finally moved to Ukraine. The 30-year-old spent 11 years to save up for education in Europe, only for the war to (almost)shatter his dreams three months after beginning his studies in Ukraine with the support of his parents who had to sell a plot of land to pay his fees. For him, repatriation was not an option. “My parents have nothing left; they can’t support me (anymore). My government just tells me to come back home, but there is nothing waiting for me’’, he explained, from his temporary abode in Germany.
And that’s the big question. What does home have to offer? But in the interim, let’s look at the same scenario unfolding in Sudan. In less than two weeks, the war of the generals as it is otherwise called has left hundreds dead and because there seems to be no enduring ceasefire , countries of the world have come to the aid of their citizens in Khartoum to evacuate either by air or through road transport to safer havens before final departure from Sudan.
However, while the evacuation seems to be smooth-sailing for other countries, red tape, corruption and lack of cooperation among African countries have conspired to deal with Nigerian citizens; stranded and suffering at desolate borders, hungry and anxious, with the prospect of stalled educational pursuits, because ‘home’ does not offer much comfort, as can be gleaned from the plight of students, who returned from Ukraine.
Amidst controversies over logistics and diversion of funds—this has always been part of the Nigerian narrative—is Egypt’s reluctance and Ethiopia’s refusal to allow Nigerians free passage over some diplomatic niceties? At this time when war is raging? These countries are insensitive and their actions uncalled for; a sad reminder that African Union and African diplomacy and cooperation are a ruse and there is no commitment to everything on paper as endorsed by members.
It is also an indication that there is nothing like African unity and this mindset engenders subtle suspicion of one another. It is the reason why super powers have always made Africa their battle ground to fight a proxy war for their self-interest, knowing full well that AU is too weak to oppose them. Africa is not working because our leaders have no foresight and it is part of the reason why Sudanese power elites are fighting themselves and killing their own, over who controls power in Sudan between the US, Russia and to a less extent, Saudi Arabia.
As has been proved time and again, for as long as African leaders cow-tow to the dictates of the West, not to the advantage of their continent’s development, but for their staying power, so shall we be stunted in all indices including education. Besides, the Increased military presence of super powers in Africa does not help matters. And for Nigeria,Ukraine returnees’ story will definitely be re-enacted with returning students from Sudan.
The dust is yet to settle on Ukraine conflict with regards to fleeing Nigerian students scattered all over Europe. Many are yet to find their feet. The six-month residency given to some have expired and others are yet to secure admission to continue their studies, because most countries give priority to Ukranian nationals.
According to a New York Times report, 26,500 African students have remained academically stranded while some are stuck in their country, uncertain about their future, one year after the war. In that same report, a Sudanese medical student in Ukraine, Mohammed Elfatih Ahmed, who had only 18 months to finish his course said he “could not go home empty-handed” after he was refused asylum because Sudan was considered ‘safe’ by German authorities. And Sudan began to boil in April. There is a case of a Nigerian medical student who was repatriated home from Ukraine. He got admission to a medical school in Sudan, before the latest onslaught there.
It is particularly irksome with respect to Nigeria. The Nigerian education system has been run aground. Strikes upon strikes, lack of motivation, low income earning, unattractive learning environment and unemployment are driving Nigerian students to anywhere other than Nigeria. That is why there is talk of 5,500 Nigerian students studying in Sudan before the war broke out. Medicine as a course in Sudan is particularly attractive to Nigerians, because back home, aspiring medical students spend years doing JAMB and waiting for universities that claim lack of carrying capacity to be able to admit.
Nigeria is a country where dreams and aspirations are killed and buried at infancy. You cannot blame those whose parents had the means or manage to get alternatives outside the shores of Nigeria. Any major conflict like that of Ukraine and now Sudan comes with disruption of lives and activities apart from deaths, maiming, rape and displacements. For how long would Nigerian students continue to bear the brunt of conflicts that have nothing to do with them? The last thing to think about during war is education, where safety of lives cannot be guaranteed. Ukraine and Sudan offer ready lessons for Nigerians who love play or hear drumbeats of war.
If hopefully, we do not push ourselves to the brink, how do we manage our students from universities from fringe countries that are prone to war? We need robust conversations around a sustainable management of such issues as they crop up in an increasingly unsafe and unstable world, without jeopardising the future, dreams and aspirations of our education-thirsty youth.
Zainab Suleiman Okino is the chairperson of Blueprint Editorial Board. She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE). She can be reached via: zainabokino@gmail.com
Member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Minority Leader of the House, Honourable Kingsley Chinda said, the Tax Reform Bills would serve the interest of citizens of Nigeria.
He spoke in defence of the passage of the recent tax reform bill, describing it as a product of diligent legislative work aimed at serving Nigerians’ interests.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Hon. Chinda emphasized that effective opposition does not require public confrontations but strategic engagement. He noted that the tax reform bill, initially flawed, was subjected to thorough scrutiny and stakeholder consultations before passage.
“We saw that the bill was not good enough for Nigerians, so we pushed for reforms,” Chinda stated. “We engaged the National Assembly leadership, consulted governors, state parliaments, and civil society groups to ensure the final version better served the people.”
While acknowledging that no law is perfect, he maintained that the revised bill represents significant progress, balancing public interest and economic needs.
On the PDP’s internal crisis, Chinda expressed disappointment over conflicting interpretations of the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary. He dismissed claims by some members still recognizing Chief Ndubuisi Okoye, describing such actions as misleading.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling was clear—Anyanwu was never lawfully removed and remains our national secretary,” Chinda said. He criticized the party’s National Organizing Secretary for causing confusion and urged members to seek clarification from the Peoples Democratic Party’s legal adviser instead of spreading misinformation.
Chinda, who is a leading opposition voice in the House, called for unity, cautioning against public disputes that damage the party’s image. “We must avoid washing our dirty linen in public. The judgment is final, and we should focus on strengthening the party ahead of future elections,” he advised.
Despite the Peoples Democratic Party’s challenges, Chinda expressed optimism about the party’s resurgence after its upcoming congresses and national convention. He urged members to prioritize Nigeria’s interests over personal ambitions, emphasizing that internal disagreements would not diminish the PDP’s role as a viable opposition.
On concerns about Nigeria drifting toward a one-party system, Chinda dismissed fears, stating that the PDP’s revival depends on strategic repositioning rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress’ actions. “We must go back to the drawing board, put the country first, and rebuild,” he concluded.
The Minority Leader’s remarks underscored his commitment to legislative diligence and party discipline, even as the PDP navigates its current turbulence.
HaAN OPEN LETTER TO ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR: THE CASE OF GOING TO EQUITY WITHOUT CLEAN HANDS
My attention as a Public Affairs Commentator and Citizen of Wukari in Taraba State has been invited to various invectives of unprecedented dimension directed at His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON by my brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar ostensibly to give oxygen to resurrect his endless political odyssey and sordid presidential ambition. I am weighing into this public narrative to interrogate various disruptions triggered by some notable politicians like Atiku Abubakar in our national life.
It is hardly possible to build anything out of frustration and bitterness. This is sadly the predicament of a one-time Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who is on course to being enlisted in the Guinness Book of Records, as the only person globally, who has unsuccessfully contested for President for six times spanning 33 years.
These bitterness and frustration have beclouded his reasoning. Atiku Abubakar, who is shamefully a dominant mention in every page of the corruption history in Nigeria, an insipid and serial sodomist, could have rather used the Ramadan period to seek for the atonement of his many mortal and monumental sins from the Almighty Allah, but his engagement in chicanery and unbridled umbrage in the most malicious and defamatory manner is the sad characterization of a man reputed for low family values and child abuse.
The series of pernicious lies peddled by Atiku deserve response in this era of positive and innovative Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which has invited collective actions for the growth and prosperity of Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar’s putrid and repulsive corrupt practices have made Nigerians to reject him for a record six times. A master of failure indeed!
It is an established fact that Atiku Abubakar is the most corrupt Nigerian, having been associated with every high-profile corruption allegation in the country across the private and public sectors. In 1996, the then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha seized control of the NICOTES shares belonging to him and renamed it Integrated Logistics Services Inc.
In 2006, Atiku was indicted by the EFCC and the Federal Government Administrative Panel of Inquiry after a Special Audit /Forensic Investigation of PTDF from 1999 to May 31, 2006.
Internationally, he is known as a super conman. Atiku’s association with American Congressman William Jefferson, who was jailed for 13 years in 2009 over bribery and other charges is well known to millions of Nigerians.
For those who don’t know, Atiku was the subject of a probe about 15 years ago by the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chaired by Senator Carl Levin. He was indicted for using offshore companies to siphon about 40 million dollars from Nigeria between 2000 and 2008 to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer Iwenjiora Douglas Abubakar (now divorced).
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom Atiku served for 8 years as Vice President, in his book ’MY WATCH’, in the chapter, titled “Atiku and US Justice Entanglement”, gave a vivid account of “corrupt involvement” of Atiku with a company called iGATE and William Jefferson. Obasanjo equally linked Atiku to the embezzlement of $20 million, funds that were to be utilized by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), and another $125 million to fund PTDF during 2003 fiscal year.
The immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has also spoken eloquently about Atiku’s corrupt adventure. In his book, ’The Accidental Public Servant’, El-Rufai gave a detailed account of Atiku’s corrupt involvement in Ericsson’s deals, the PTDF scandal, Abuja Water Treatment Plant contract and his obsession with marabouts – these marabouts that have been deceiving him since 1991 that he will be president.
A serial women abuser, Atiku has divorced two of his wives since 1971 (Ladi and Jennifer). In the case of Jennifer, even after the divorce, he threatened and bullied her out of Nigeria. Jennifer had to sell her law chambers in Nigeria and relocated to the UK.
He has been after the woman in an attempt to dispossess her of her assets and properties.
A certified child abuser, Atiku’s exploits with hapless boys and young men are well known. No wonder, in his eight years as vice president and many years as wealthy man (though filthy), Atiku could not boast of a school that could cater for the educational needs of the less privileged, especially boys (Almajiri’s), but now runs the exotic ABTI University and a host of other businesses that are out of the reach of the common man.
In the contrary, unlike Atiku Abubakar, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON has for over two decades, conducted himself with integrity and transparency. His accomplishments in Akwa Ibom State, in particular, and Nigeria in general, are symbolized in the countless legacies of infrastructure, human capacity development and tourists’ hub.
Just yesterday (Tuesday), the Super Eagles of Nigeria hosted The Warriors of Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. The stadium, which is the only FIFA approved facility in Nigeria, was built by Akpabio as governor of the state. What did Atiku do for Adamawa state and Nigeria?
The Zimbabwean delegation also flew Ibom Air and landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo- all legacies of the Uncommon Transformer. But where are Atiku’s legacies for the people? He can only lay claim to a chain of businesses, which are products of pillaging and corrupt investments.
In all of these, it is crystal clear that Akpabio’s unflinching support for President Tinubu, who blocked Atiku’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC in 2015 and frustrated his return bid in 2019 and yet floored him in the 2023 general elections is the reason for Atiku’s hostile charge against the Senate President.
But using Akpabio as a ladder to get to the president cannot do Atiku any good. Both Tinubu and Akpabio are united by the resolve to rejig and reset the nation and give Nigerians dividends of democracy, which Atiku as vice president worked tirelessly to undermine for personal aggrandizement.
It is also axiomatic that Atiku has started preparation for the 2027 general elections. As for Akpabio and Tinubu, they are preoccupied with state and governance issues and would not swim with the former vice president in his quest to distract the duo from delivering good governance to Nigerians. When 2027 comes, Nigerians will, for the umpteenth time give, Atiku a black eye and vote the best candidate.
DANJUMA ISAIAH writes from
Wukari in Taraba State
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubaka mini visited the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Umar Dikko Umaru Radda, at the Government House in Katsina to express condolences following the passing of his beloved mother, Hajiya Safara’u Umar Bare-Bari Radda.
During the visit, Minister Abubakar, on behalf of himself, his family, the Minister of State for Defence H.E. Dr. Bello Matawalle MON and the entire staff of the Ministry of Defence, conveyed heartfelt condolences to Governor Radda, his family, and the people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
In his remarks, he prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased, grant her mercy, and bestow upon her a place in Jannatul Firdaus. He also offered prayers for the Governor and his family, asking for strength and fortitude to bear this profound loss.
The Minister was accompanied by Hon. Idris Garba Jahun, former Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, along with Hon. Abubakar Sadiq Jallo and Hon. Mas’ud A. Naruwa, members of the Katsina State House of Assembly representing Hadejia and Babura, respectively.
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