The Nigerian college students in Benin Republic have expressed displeasure over the latest ban imposed by the Federal Authorities on diploma certificates from the colleges in Benin and Togo Republics.
The Federal Authorities had imposed the ban sequel to a latest undercover report by a Nigerian journalist, who uncovered the alleged fraudulent and shady practices in universities within the two international locations, issuing diploma certificates to Nigerian college students.
The reporter nonetheless, personally dabbled into the “illicit enterprise” and obtained a level certificates inside six weeks from a Benionise College after paying the massive sum of money required.
Talking throughout an unique interview with the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, the president of the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian College students (NANS), Benin Republic chapter, Mr Favour Ikenna, mentioned the motion of presidency banning the diploma certificates from the 2 international locations had already put them and different real college students within the two international locations into confusion.
Ikenna, a final-year scholar, learning Laptop Science on the Institute Superieur De Communication Et De Gestion (ISCG College), Abbatoir Carrifour, Cotonou, who condemned the fraudulent practices by some universities within the two international locations, nonetheless, appealed to Nigerian authorities to rethink its motion by lifting the ban within the curiosity of 1000’s of Nigerians, who’re legitimately searching for data within the two Francophone international locations.
In accordance with him, Nigerian college students in varied universities in Benin Republic alone are as much as 10,000 and they’re there as respectable college students.
Whereas explaining that they secured their admissions legitimately, Ikenna added that in addition they have interaction in different lawful actions anticipated of them as college students.
He acknowledged: “It’s not all Nigerian college students in Benin Republic and Togo who purchase certificates and we additionally imagine it could possibly’t be all their universities promoting certificates.
“We all know for certain that many people within the two international locations are respectable college students and we undergo so much to amass our certificates. We take our schooling significantly and spend three to 4 or extra years to earn the certificates relying on our mode of learning both because the common or direct entry college students.
Whereas urging Nigerian authorities to research the veracity of the information report and to additionally strengthen the operational system of the federal government businesses and authorities alleged of weak system together with the Nigerian Immigration Service, federal ministry of schooling and the Nationwide Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and amongst different, Ikenna mentioned certificates of scholars from the 2 international locations and different international locations around the globe may now be subjected to thorough screening to determine their genuineness if doubtful, slightly than putting instant ban on these from Benin and Togo republics.
He mentioned a few of them, who’re in ultimate 12 months courses are already warming as much as be accredited and mobilised for the one-year obligatory NYSC programme again house, noting that to now ban them is tantamount to placing their destinies on maintain.
In its response, NANS, the dad or mum physique of all college students at house and overseas, whereas commending Nigerian authorities for taking step in the direction of upholding the integrity of the tutorial certificates Nigerians college students obtained from wherever around the globe, famous that “additionally it is crucial to contemplate the damaging penalties of the present ban on the respectable and duly registered college students within the two international locations.”
The Senate President of NANS, Mr Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, additionally informed Nigerian Tribune on that “lots of the affected college students should have invested their substantial instances, energies and assets of their schooling pursuits and that some have even accomplished their research and solely awaiting approval to take part within the NYSC programme.”
He famous that with the ban, the scholars in query at the moment are in a state of uncertainty, going through potential delays of their educational {and professional} pursuits over the offence they didn’t commit.
He identified that although there’s a want for re-assessment of certificates from these two international locations, it’s equally essential that authorities doesn’t restrict thorough evaluation of certificates to the 2 international locations.
He additionally talked about that authorities would want to strengthen its academic establishments to make them engaging to Nigerians to attend and likewise its related businesses to function in line with dictates of their institution.
In accordance with him, a blanket suspension of certificates from Benin and Togo republics can pressure the age- lengthy diplomatic and academic relations between Nigeria and the 2 international locations.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE