By Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Abuja.
Relief and succour has come the way of Nigerian students being evacuated from the war-torn Sudan as Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured them that the Board will provide necessary infrastructure to enable the students complete their education in Nigerian Universities, if they so wish
Oloyede gave the cheering news while receiving a delegation led by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on discussions on how the student returnees who wish to complete their respective studies in Nigeria, could so do.
The JAMB Registrar expressed his readiness to work with the universities regulator, the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure a seamless transition for the completion of the affected students.
He, however, noted that in line with the Arusha/Addis Ababa declaration, a university transfer student must spend at least two years in any university before certification.
He averred that university admission is personal to individuals and each student could approach institutions of their choice while JAMB will streamline the admission based on the laid down guidelines.
Oloyede listed some of the guidelines to include transcripts of examination records of previous years, filling of the uploaded forms and ensure the University applied to has accreditation for the course, among others.
For those whose course can be completed on-line, he said that National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has provision for online courses.
“I advise both the students and parents to study the rules very well and comply, and ensure the admissions are properly ratified by JAMB, with the issuance of an admission letter from JAMB to the students concerned at any level , after they have been appropriately transferred to their universities of choice.
Oloyede used the opportunity to commend Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for being proactive at all times on issues affecting Nigerians abroad, describing the Commission as a “good supplement “ to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said the Commission was inundated with calls from Parents and students expressing concerns on how they will complete their respective studies in Nigeria.
She said that the guidelines released by JAMB will be made public and posted on NiDCOM websites and other social media handles of the Commission.
She, however, expressed her appreciation to Prof. Is-haq Oloyede and JAMB for being a strategic partner with NIDCOM .
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Abiodun Odunuga, the Co-founder, Friends of Nigeria, Europe, an NGO said that he has received offers for scholarships for a number of the student returnees from Sudan at American International University, Gambia for students with practical courses and willing to come to Gambia, and the Paris Graduate School for online courses, such as in Human Resources and Business Management courses.
One of the members of Parent Association of the student evacuees, Hajia Asmau Muhammad Yerima, appealed to the Federal Government to provide the necessary means for students to continue their studies in Nigeria as part of the therapy for the trauma they went through.
She thanked NiDCOM and JAMB, as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria for their efforts since the crisis began in Sudan and the kind gesture towards the students.
It will be recalled that the war that broke out in Sudan had distrupted the açademic programmes of thousands of Nigerian students which led to evacuation , till date , of over 1,856 Nigerians back to the country.
Balogun is the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, Abuja.
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