The Zamfara State government has expressed concern regarding 93 of its students stranded at Cyprus International University due to alleged documentation issues under the previous administration.
Blaming former governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defense, for the crisis, the government stated that essential funds for tuition, accommodation, and feeding were not provided, leaving students in difficult conditions abroad.
At a press conference in Abuja, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Wadatau Madawaki, explained that there was no documented agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the university and Matawalle’s administration, effectively abandoning the students to the university’s discretion.
Madawaki noted that while the current administration under Governor Dauda Lawal has made partial payments for the students’ tuition and some accommodations, they are still in the process of resolving the remaining debts.
“The attention of His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, has been drawn to the plight of Zamfara students studying at Cyprus International University under a sponsorship by the previous administration of Bello Matawalle,” Madawaki said. “We feel it is necessary to clarify the situation to avoid any misinformation, especially among the parents of these students.”
According to Madawaki, the scholarship program launched in 2020 was marred by poor planning, with a consultant hired to arrange the students’ admissions and accommodations on a “full package” basis, which included feeding fees that were charged whether or not the students actually ate. This arrangement, Madawaki argued, created unfair financial burdens and led to mounting debt as the Matawalle administration ceased funding in 2022.
The absence of a formal agreement between the previous administration and the university left the students vulnerable to mistreatment, with university authorities reportedly stopping students from attending lectures while continuing to bill for unpaid accommodation and meal costs, including for students who had since left the program.
Once informed of the crisis, Governor Lawal directed officials to assess the outstanding debt through discussions with the university. Madawaki noted that initial estimates presented by the university appeared inflated, as they included costs for accommodations and meals not actually provided.
Despite these challenges, Madawaki emphasized that the current administration has taken significant steps to address the issue and alleviate the students’ hardships.