Open Letter to Governor Dauda Lawal on the Cyprus Students’ Crisis
By Bello Galadi (Turakin Galadi, Chiroman Batauna)
✓Governor Lawal, Address the Plight of Zamfara State’s Students in Cyprus.
Your Excellency, I hope this letter finds you well. Recently, I came across the video appeal by Zamfara State students studying at Cyprus International University. Alongside this, I reviewed the Zamfara State Government’s press release dated November 2, 2024. The situation is distressing and poses an international embarrassment.
✓Zamfara Government’s Initial Efforts Are Commendable, Yet Insufficient
Your administration has demonstrated some commitment to the welfare of these students. Since November 2023, you’ve paid over N215 million to the Cyprus International University to settle accumulated liabilities. Additionally, in August 2024, you sent a three-member delegation, including the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Malam Wadatau Madawaki; the Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Bello Muhammad Auta; and your Special Adviser on Finance, Hon. Barau Muazu, to Cyprus to address the situation. These steps are noteworthy.
✓Delegation Composition Needs to Be Reassessed for Effective Representation
However, the delegation’s composition lacked representation from key sectors. Given the magnitude of this issue, the team should have included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Scholarship Board, student unions, academia, religious leaders, and parents. The three-member delegation, as constituted, was inadequate for a task of this complexity.
✓Inadequate Follow-Up and Incomplete Resolution
A well-coordinated follow-up strategy was needed. The delegation should not have left Cyprus without reaching substantial resolutions with the university. Ideally, one member should have remained to ensure that outstanding issues were resolved. A clear and binding Memorandum of Understanding between the university and the Zamfara State Government should have been secured before departure.
✓Addressing Past Missteps: A Successive Government’s Responsibility
The press release indicated that the relationship between Zamfara State and Cyprus International University was flawed from inception. While this may be true, it’s essential to recognize that government continuity mandates addressing past administration issues effectively. As a governor who declared a state of emergency on education, Zamfara State’s students, local and abroad, deserve consistent support, including scholarships.
✓A Call for Direct Engagement and Urgent Resolution
These 93 students, sponsored in 2019, are assets to our state. Regardless of which administration funded their scholarships, their wellbeing and future demand attention. Your Excellency, I urge you to personally visit Cyprus, meet the students, and engage with the university administration. Address their needs, including accommodation, tuition, allowances, residency permits, access to facilities, and other essentials. Your presence and direct involvement could provide the decisive action needed.
✓If All Else Fails, Consider Repatriation or Local Solutions
Should the situation remain unresolved, I suggest involving local government authorities, political figures, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and business stakeholders. Education, while primarily a governmental responsibility, is a collective duty. However, if all options fail, consider repatriating these students and facilitating their transfer to Nigerian institutions with strong academic standards.
✓Final Recommendation: Forensic Review of Financial Transactions
Lastly, consider commissioning forensic accountants and auditors to assess all financial transactions related to these scholarships since 2019. This investigation would clarify previous payments and outstanding obligations.
Sincerely,
Bello Galadi,
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gusau Branch, President of the Bello Galadi Foundation
About The Author
