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Wealthy Nigerians should do more for students
I am a Nigerian student in the United King
dom and among those studying for the PhD. I am the only one who is not on scholarship. I am self-funded, meaning that I work and study at the same time.
Now, to the essence of my letter. My colleagues who are from other countries like China, Thailand, United States of America, Australia and New Zealand, are sponsored by individuals in their home countries.
One of my Chinese friends is on scholarship set up in the name of Liu Xang.
This colleague of mine told me Liu Xang was an entrepreneur who set aside in a will 10 per cent of his companies’ gross profits to be used to sponsor Chinese students studying for their Masters and PhD degrees in foreign universities.
The same thing can be said of other PhD students in my school.
However, I am the only Nigerian student in my department and the only one who is not enjoying an individual-sponsored scholarship.
The only form of scholarship I enjoy is the one from my department, that makes it mandatory for me to teach undergraduate students and deductions are made from my overall tuition.
While I am not appealing for help, I know there are rich Nigerians who are capable of sponsoring Nigerian students in foreign universities.
There are rich politicians who have stolen so much that they don’t even know what to do with the money.
Nigeria has two billionaires listed on the Forbes Richlist who are more than financially buoyant to sponsor bright but indigent students.
Wealthy Nigerians must learn to invest in the future generations.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy has given opportunities of a better life to many Nigerians.
Investing in the education of others has a multiplier effect.
Nigerian politicians must also stop distributing motorcycles, grinding machienes etc in the name of empowering the people.The only way to truly empower the people is to get them educated.
Felix Chibuzor,
Cardiff,
Wales.
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2011: In support of Yewa
THE debate on who becomes the next governor
of Ogun State in 2011 has generated heated
arguments among stakeholders and political observers in Ogun State.
There are questions that must be answered to know where the pendulum should swing to in the next political dispensation. One of such is: Are the people of Yewa/Awori qualified to produce the governor of Ogun State, taking into cognisance their population, size and number of local governments in the zone?
The following information should assist interested persons to know whether or not the Yewa people should be considered for the governorship slot in 2011, despite the fact that some have argued that zoning of political offices may not necessarily produce the best candidate.
Ogun State is divided into four distinct divisions or zones namely: Remo, Ijebu, Egba, Yewa, with each zone having a paramount ruler. These four paramount rulers rotate the chairmanship of Ogun State Council of Obas.
The Ijebu, with six local governments and a population of 816,256, according to the 2006 population figures by the National Population Commission (NPC), produced the first civilian governor, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, between 1979 and 1983. The Egba, with six local governments and a population of 1,370,900 in 2006, produced the second civilian governor between 1992 and 1993, and between 1999 and 2003 respectively.
The incumbent governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is from Remo, with three local governments and a population of 432,058 in 2006. He has been in office since 2003 and should be in charge till 2011.
The only zone that has not produced the governor in Ogun State is Yewa, with five local governments and a population of 1,109,884 in 2006. From the foregoing, it is only fair and reasonable that the Yewa people should be considered for the Government House in 2011.
From the population figures at our disposal, it will be wrong for anyone or group of persons to refer to Yewa as a minority group in the state.
Like other people in the state, Yewa has notable sons and daughters that are eminently qualified to vie and occupy the exalted office of the governor come 2011.
Evangelist Jide Somotun,
Sagamu Local Government,
Ogun State.
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Appeal to Gov. Fashola
Permit me to use
your widely read
newspaper to query the chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, on the traffic jam experienced in Ogudu, in recent times.
Investigations have shown that, the conversion of Association Road to a single lane as against its original design as a double lane access road to Oworonsoki–Lagos Island Expressway, is the reason motorists spend long hours on the road.
Available facts show that, since the construction of Association Road, which is the widest road in that area, it has always been a double lane access road. The road which motorists are forced to use at Adebare Street is not only narrow, but has also never been designed to be an access road linking Ogudu GRA to the Expressway.
It is sad, therefore, to note that an area that has never been known for any traffic problem has suddenly become a big nightmare to motorists and residents alike. For the residents of Ogudu GRA, in particular, going out everyday has become a big challenge as traffic problem remains unresolved throughout the day.
A fallout of the artificial traffic congestion in the area is that, kabukabu drivers now pack by the roundabout that connects Ogudu Ori-Oke Bridge, Association Road, Adebare Street with the main Ogudu-Ojota Road, creating which further worsen traffic situation in the area.
A very bad side to this sad development is the fact that, unscrupulous local government officials have been using the situation to their advantage, making an unsuspecting violator of their illegal creation to pay as much as N20,000, which usually ends up unaccounted for. Of course, one is bold to challenge the concerned authorities to verify this and all the other facts stated above.
Our appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola is to intervene by cancelling this illegality that has continued to cause much harm to motorists and residents in the area in recent times.
Lekan Samuel,
Ogudu GRA,
Ojota,
Lagos.
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