Governor Nyesom Wike, his daughter Jasmine, son Jordan and wife, Eberechi, during the graduation ceremony in the UK.
The Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, has come under heavy criticism after his son Jordan bagged a law degree from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
This is coming six years after the state government announced it did not have resources to sustain funding of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, (RSSDA), overseas scholarship programme
“We have to be realistic. We all know what is happening in Nigeria. We now have a dwindling revenue both from FAC and IGR. We all know our exchange rates,” the state government announced in 2015.
It went ahead to propose sustained scholarship for all non-final-year beneficiaries of the overseas scholarship programme who returned home to continue their studies at either the University of Port Harcourt or the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
The ICIR reports that $1 which exchanged for N196 at the official exchange rate in 2015, now has a value of N415, which is an increase of 112 per cent.
Nigerians were irked as photos from the graduation ceremony emerged on Monday, especially as universities across the country have remained shut since February and academic activities grounded, over disagreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government.
Reacting to the News, a Doctor of Applied Ethic Victor Wolemonwu, said Wike’s action is evidence of a self-centered politician.
“He stopped the scholarships of Rivers students who were already studying abroad. Some of them had to work to fund their studies.
” Others came back home frustrated. Today, he is celebrating his son’s graduation from a University in the UK. Evidence of a self-centred politician,” Wolemonwu who lectures in the UK said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, has urged ASUU to “sympathise with the people” and call off their five-months-old strike.
While receiving some governors who paid visit to his home in Daura, Katsina state, Buhari expressed worry that the strike will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.
“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment,” the president said.