Ukraine Returnees: Parents laments over double payment to universities

Parents of Nigerian students evacuated from Ukraine due to the ongoing war with Russia, have lamented the alleged double payment which they have been subjected to in order for their children to continue with their education in Nigeria.

A parent, Taofik Amade, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Thursday on the development, alleged that the universities in Ukraine have denied their children the option of enrolling in universities of their choice by refusing to release their academic transcripts.

Rather, he said, they entered into a mobility arrangement with some Nigerian universities through the National Universities Commission (NUC) whereby the students would be taking lectures partly online with Ukraine and physically with the selected Nigerian universities.

“But the problem is that we are now forced to pay double school fees, one to the Ukrainian university and another to the Nigerian university all in US dollars.

“With this high rate of dollars, how many parents can afford the double fees?”

He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene to save the education of thousands of Nigerian students affected by this situation.

Also speaking on the same issue, another parent, Laila Usman, expressed concern that since July when the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the affected students to apply for enrolment into Nigerian Universities, nothing has been heard, thereby leaving the students stranded.

“Even in August, the Federal Ministry of Education issued a notice that the Ukraine returnees should apply to the Federal Scholarship board which they did.

“But as I speak to you, my daughter has not heard anything from them,” she said.