NDDC SCHOLARS SEND ‘SOS’ TO BUHARI

Many beneficiaries of the (Niger Delta Development Commission) NDDC International Postgraduate Scholarship scheme have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and save them from being thrown out of school due to non-payment of tuition fees among others.

In two letters made available to CITY LAWYER, the PHD scholars who are studying in Russia and the United Kingdom stated that “our sponsor has again defaulted in remitting our tuition and upkeep overdue for payment since May 2021, thus leaving us destitute and in severe suffering, as well as exposing us to danger especially given the COVID-19 pandemic times that we currently live in.”

They also noted that “Previous payments only came in after your timely intervention through a presidential order after series of protests in the United Kingdom by scholars, and we still have a few number of us whose payments were omitted.”

Titled “REQUEST FOR YOUR FATHERLY INTERVENTION ON THE PAYMENT OF OUR TUITION AND UPKEEP GRANT,” the letter read: “We the awardees of NDDC international postgraduate scholarship in the UK and across the world, in pursuit of doctoral research in various field of study, sincerely thank you for availing us with the opportunity to be international scholars under your immeasurable leadership. We are not oblivious of your immerse (sic) and timely intervention in August, 2020 which led to the payments of a-year overdue tuition and stipends to majority MSc and PhD Scholars who were hitherto abandoned, we are eternally grateful and appreciate you for all your efforts in handling the numerous challenges threatening to divide our nation.”

According to the scholars, “In the light of the withdrawal letters issued to 5 PhD scholars by their schools and the present inhumane conditions such a few of us have been subjected to across the various universities due to default in the payment of our tuition/upkeeps by the commission. We hereby, in humility of heart submit this letter to appeal for your fatherly intervention on our behalf. The scholarship is valued at $30,000 (Thirty Thousand U.S. Dollars) only per year which covers tuition, accommodation and living expenses and is supposed to be paid out annually for a maximum of 3 years for all Ph.D. scholars.”

Noting that the 2018 awardees “should be submitting thesis early next year,” the stranded students said: “We are in a very desperate situation as our schools are on our necks to pay our tuition, yet we can barely feed and settle basic bills. We have had to reach out to charity organizations for help and beg our schools’ officials and landlords to give us more time. So, we use this medium to appeal to you sir, as the father of the nation Nigeria, to please intervene on our matter and see to the full funding of our scholarship. It is abnormal for NDDC to be waiting for its scholars to embark on protests in embassies and high commissions overseas before it settles fees of scholars sent abroad for the good of the country and region.”

The letter was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) of Nigeria, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

It is recalled that the Niger Delta Students Association recently staged a protest in Port Harcourt in solidarity with the stranded scholars.

Following an earlier protest, NDDC’s Corporate Affairs Director, Mr. Charles Odili had said, “In keeping with our commitment to funding the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Foreign Scholarship Programme, the Interim Management Committee, IMC, has paid $5,910,000 to 197 scholarship beneficiaries of 2019, while payment processes for 94 beneficiaries of 2018 are ongoing.

“Among the 197 beneficiaries are 43 scholars for Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, comprising 12 for 2016 and 31 for 2019. This category got $30,000 each, amounting to $1,290,000. The Masters category has 154 MSC beneficiaries of 2019, who were paid $30,000 each, amounting to $4, 420,000. The payment processes for 94 beneficiaries of 2018; 40 for Ph.D. and 54 for MSC, are ongoing.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

LAW SCHOOL CLASS ’91 OPENS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

In fulfillment of its pledge to award 30 scholarships to indigent students of the Nigerian Law School in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Nigerian Law School “Class of 1991” has invited applications from prospective beneficiaries.

A statement signed by foremost litigator and Chairman of the 30th Anniversary Planning Committee, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN indicated that the application window closes on November 20, 2021. All applications are to be emailed to nls1991anniversary@gmail.com.

According to the eligibility criteria, each applicant must

1) be admitted to the Nigerian Law School for the 2021/2022 academic year and must be able to take up the admission;

2) be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance by submitting a short essay of not more than 250 words explaining why he/she deserves this scholarship.

3) be able to demonstrate a career plan;

4) have earned a minimum of Second Class Honours degree.

According to Ananaba who is also the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), “The scholarships are designed to assist indigent Law School students and to ensure that impecuniosity does not stand in the way of a Bar aspirant becoming a member of the noble profession.”

Speaking further on the forthcoming anniversary which has the Dinner & Awards Night holding on December 10, 2021 at Nigerian Air Force Mess, Kado District, Abuja as one of its highlights, Ananaba said: “It is our way of giving back to the society. Many of our class mates have made their marks in several fields of endeavour. Some of the alumni are governors, jurists, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, just name it! Ours is one of the most successful classes that the Nigerian Law School has ever produced. We are grateful to God for this uncommon grace upon our members. Another highlight of the red-carpet Dinner & Awards Night is a ‘Special Recognition Award’ to a deserving honores.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.