Holidaying in St. Lucia, Tinubu Announces OECS Scholarship Programme, Sparks Outcry Over Neglect of Nigerian Students

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a scholarship programme aimed at students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), allowing them to pursue tertiary education in Nigerian universities from the next academic year. This announcement, while presented as a bold diplomatic initiative, has stirred mixed reactions across Nigeria. Citizens, particularly youth and education advocates, are raising sharp concerns about the government's apparent willingness to invest in foreign students while many Nigerians struggle to afford quality education at home.

The OECS is a regional group of island nations in the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, and Anguilla. While these countries share historical ties with Africa, especially through colonial legacies and diasporic connections, many Nigerians are questioning the timing and priority of such international outreach.

Tinubu, speaking during a bilateral meeting with OECS representatives, emphasized the scholarship programme as part of a broader strategy to strengthen cultural and educational ties between Africa and the Caribbean. He described the move as "a symbol of shared destiny" and urged Nigerians to view the initiative as a long-term investment in continental and diasporic unity. According to him, the plan will promote Afro-descendant cooperation, boost university reputation, and facilitate south-south cooperation in education and research.

Public response has been swift, and not all of it has been positive. Many have taken to social media platforms to express frustration, interpreting the move as tone-deaf at a time when Nigerian universities face budget cuts, strikes, overcrowded classrooms, and outdated infrastructure. Several online commentators sarcastically noted the irony of Nigerian students having to seek scholarships abroad, while the government is now prepared to fund the education of foreign students within its own institutions.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Good one. Stop funding the scholarship of Nigeria citizens elsewhere and start funding aliens into Nigeria.” Another added, “Next thing, give them voters card to vote for APC.” The tone of public discourse has shifted from skepticism to anger, with some commentators even predicting legal consequences for the current administration.

Education experts have also weighed in, stating that while the programme might bring short-term diplomatic benefits, the government must first ensure its domestic education system is adequately funded and reformed. Dr. Oluwatoyin Oyekan, a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, remarked, “No country strengthens international education ties while its students are sitting at home due to strikes. This is not strategic; it's irresponsible.”

Further complicating the situation is the lack of clarity on funding. The presidency has not yet disclosed the financial scope of the programme or which universities will participate. Nor has it explained how the scholarships will be allocated, whether there will be quotas, or what academic disciplines will be prioritized. This opacity is fuelling public suspicion, with many speculating that the policy could be used for political maneuvering or serve as a smokescreen for other undisclosed deals.

Critics also question whether OECS students will truly benefit or if the initiative is simply a diplomatic photo-op with no long-term implementation plan. Some have raised concerns over how Nigeria’s bureaucracy, often riddled with inefficiencies, will handle the integration of foreign students from small island nations.

Government supporters, on the other hand, argue that Nigeria has a leadership role to play in Africa and the Global South. They maintain that hosting OECS students will not only enhance Nigeria's image but also attract reciprocal goodwill and investment from Caribbean nations. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the scholarships would boost tourism, improve intercontinental relations, and showcase Nigeria’s soft power globally.

Despite these arguments, many remain unconvinced. The average Nigerian student, often grappling with student loan uncertainty, poor internet access, and dilapidated lecture halls, may find little solace in such diplomatic gestures. Calls are growing louder for the federal government to revisit its priorities and focus squarely on the domestic crises undermining public universities across the country.

As the next academic year approaches and implementation of the OECS scholarship scheme gets underway, all eyes will be on Aso Rock to see whether the administration will back up its international commitments with equal, if not greater, attention to the educational needs of its own citizens.