are meant for Science students and/or first
class students, as though other students
don't deserve it?
In Nigeria, scholarships are only meant for
Science students or first class students, those
outside these circles don't deserve it.
Why?
It is no news that getting tertiary education in
Nigeria is difficult, for all students, science, arts,
commercial...
Aside the fact that the quality is low and the pace
is staggered, what with the incessant strike
actions, the cost factor is a hurdle many find too
impossible to cross.
Scholarships are as scarce as water in the desert
while school fees are rising like the sun, but unlike
the sun, they never set.
Public institutions are costly, strike actions tear
up the academic calendars and not many can
afford private universities' prohibitive charges.
That was why students went agog in Nigerian
institutions earlier this year, violently demanding
more affordable fees — the Lagos State University
and Obafemi Awolowo University protests are
just a few examples.
So unless you study in states like Imo, where the
governor is blazing the trail of free education, and
in some northern states, where the government
sponsors all, the pursuit of a degree, or post-
graduate degree is a tortuous journey.
What about scholarships?
Well, you could aspire to get a scholarship, but,
sadly, they are few to come by and biased,
alienating some category of students.
In Nigeria, scholarships are only meant for
Science students or first class students, those
outside these circles don't deserve it.
In most cases, it is skewed against those in the
arts and humanities and I'll prove this point with
three scholarship schemes in Nigeria.
. Nigeria NLNG Postgraduate Scholarship
Scheme. To be eligible for this, you must be
entering into a Master's programme in
Engineering, Geosciences, Environmental
Sciences, Management Sciences, Information
Technology, Law and Medicine.
. Petroleum Technology Development Fund
(PTDF) Overseas and Local Scholarship
Scheme. According to the PTDF website, this
scholarship "is designed to meet the long-term
capacity requirements of the Oil and Gas
Industry through training of young Nigerians in
related fields of Engineering, Geological
Sciences, Environmental and Energy Studies
both at the Masters and Doctorate levels."
. Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme
for Innovation and Development
(PRESSID). According to PRESSID, "this
scholarship developing a critical mass of
professionals who would serve as catalysts of
change and agents of scientific and
technological advancement, as well as
sustainable economic development." Apart from
the fact that students in the arts are excluded,
this scholarship is also meant for those who have
"obtained First Class Honours degrees."
While it is good to reward hard working students
and also encourage science education, it is my
personal opinion that the scholarship distribution
should reach every Nigerian student.
First of all, the process of getting a first class is
different in Nigerian Universities. To get a First
Class in a University like the University of Benin,
Obafemi Awolowo University or Ahmadu Bello
University is not the same as getting one in most
private Universities.
This point was echoed by the Vice Chancellor of
Western Delta University Oghara, Delta State,
Prof Peter Hugbo, who said some universities
"manipulate the system" » to churn out 1st
class graduates.
Again, even if the first class degrees will be used
as a criteria, is it not unfair that students in the
social sciences, arts and commercial fields are
sidelined?
When government scholarships are limited by
field, we are inadvertently saying some students
are automatically second class citizens by virtue
of their chosen course of study.
It is my personal opinion that government
scholarships should be equally distributed
amongst the various fields of study, with all given
the chance to apply for such, not just those with
1st class or 2nd class upper certificates.
A more accommodating screening process that
will give equal opportunities to students from all
Nigerian tertiary institutions should be devised
because students from all fields of endeavor
contribute to the economy and should be
recognised and considered.
Certificate/course of study discrimination should
stop!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.