Reasons Why Wike Discontinued Overseas Scholarship for Rivers Students

The Rivers State government has discontinued funding of scholarship to Rivers state students currently enjoying it in various foreign universities
and has recalled all students under its scholarship programme to return home except those in final year ending 2016.

The government said its reason for this action is because of lack of fund.

The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has therefore informed parents and guardians of students currently benefiting from the state government funded scholarship program in various universities across the world, that resources are no longer available to continue with the programme.

In a letter dated February 6, 2016,by the executive director/CEO of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Lawrence Pepple, he wrote: “All others will need to return to Nigeria to continue their studies; the government will continue to fully sponsor them. This way all the students will still achieve the desired objective of successful graduation in your chosen field of study.”

The Overseas scholarship program which is administered by the RSSDA has been running since the 2008/2009 academic session and had a target of sending 300 students overseas annually.

The state government paid the entire bill of the scholars including; the airfare, tuition (school fees, laboratory, books), accommodation, feeding and monthly upkeep.

According to Pepple, the students will however be transferred to the same level in Nigeria as they currently are abroad. At the moment, there are students on RSSDA scholarships in Canada, the UK, Ireland, India, Singapore and Malaysia.

The RSSDA CEO apologised over the fact that allowances and entitlements of the students have not been paid for several months. He stated that fixing that situation is “paramount on our agenda.”

“Unfortunate as the situation is, we thank God for the opportunity to still continue and complete your studies and the magnanimity of His Excellency, the Executive Governor for his vision to find a positive way out of the tight financial situation,” he said.

Choi! This is prestige-dropping o.