DON'T GO FOR STUDIES IN CYPRUS - ABIKE DABIRI WARNS NIGERIANS

The search for greener pastures in the area of education has led many
Nigerian students outside the country.
The incessant strikes of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), unpredictable academic calendars and overall poor standard of
education are just a few of the reasons why some of the nation's
students have sought educational solace in countries like Malaysia,
Ukraine and Cyprus.
Unfortunately however, not all Nigerians who visit these countries
come back with a better lot, some don't even come back at all.
In April 2012, Onochie Martins Nwankwo, a student at a private college
in Malaysia was beaten to death by security guards.
In December 2013, 2 Nigerian students, Theresa Olaoluwa Oresanya and
Bede Olunna Ogbu, both studying at the Donetsk National Technical
University in Ukraine, died in circumstances which were said to have
pointed to negligence.
The Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Diaspora,
Abike Dabiri- Erewa, has now issued a warning to parents against
sending their children to study in Cyprus, specifically at the Cyprus
International University, Nicosa, in North Cyprus.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa attributed this directive to the fact that the
school's authorities had shown insensitivity towards the death of one
Gabriel Soriwei, a 20-year-old who had been in his first year studying
Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the university when he died.
Premium Times reports:
Mr. Soriwei was knocked down by a driver on July 13, 2013.
He went into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013. Five
days after his demise, the university authorities flew his remains
back to Nigeria.
Nigerians, especially the deceased person's family, have condemned the
manner in which the school handled the situation.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, warned Nigerians to be wary of the authorities of
school who she said are moving to lure Nigerian students.
"The House Committee on Diaspora has drawn the attention of Nigerians
to a suspicious move by the authorities of Cyprus International
University, Nicosa, North Cyprus to lure Nigerian students to their
university," Mrs. Dabiri – Erewa said.
She accused the CIU of conniving with North Cyprus to facilitate the
release of the driver and shield her identity from the family of the
deceased.
The Director, International Office of CIU, Patrick Douse, on Tuesday
apologised to the Soriwei family over the Institutions nonchalance.
He explained that the identity of the driver that knocked Gabriel down
was being withheld by the police because investigations were still
ongoing.
Mrs. Dabiri – Erewa recounted the death of another Nigerian, a
musician from Bayelsa State, Stanley Ateimo. He was allegedly murdered
during a disagreement with a white student over a girl in Nicosa on
August 12, 2013.
She said Nigerians should be wary of the school's team which was
headed to Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Uyo leaving out Benin and Bayelsa,
home states of Messrs Soriwei and Ateimo.