Over 600 students of ESM University, Benin Republic, alongside their parents, have called on President Bola Tinubu to overturn the recent ban on the university’s certificates in Nigeria. The affected students, many of whom are on scholarships provided by the faith-based organization Omega Power Ministries (OPM), expressed their distress over the decision during a gathering in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
The students and their parents, visibly upset, shared their shock upon learning of the Federal Government’s decision to discredit their institution. They emphasized that the ban jeopardizes their educational progress and threatens to waste the significant financial investment already made by their benefactor, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the General Overseer of OPM.
Mrs. Josephine Hycienth, a visually impaired widow and mother of one of the students, voiced her concerns, highlighting the financial relief she felt when her son received the scholarship. She pleaded with President Tinubu to reconsider the ban, explaining that without the scholarship, her son’s education would be at risk.
Moses Nicodemus, a 200-level Computer Science student, also shared his frustration. He returned to Nigeria for his Industrial Training, only to discover that his university was no longer accredited. Nicodemus, along with other students, is appealing to the President to intervene, citing the substantial financial support provided by Apostle Chinyere, who has invested millions of naira in their education.
Apostle Chinyere, who was instrumental in sending the students to ESM University, expressed his dismay over the situation. He revealed that before initiating the scholarship program, he had verified the university’s accreditation with the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, which assured him that the institution was credible and that its graduates could participate in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Chinyere further explained that the funds used for these scholarships came from church offerings and tithes, emphasizing that his goal has always been to support underprivileged students. He called on President Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to reconsider the ban, stressing that it would be nearly impossible to reinvest such a large sum of money to start the students’ education afresh.
The affected students were expected to resume their studies in September, but with the ban
