… launches Rethink Nigeria
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ghana Chapter has taken up the charge to build the capacity of its members in business and entrepreneurship as part of activities outlined to mark their country’s 63rd anniversary.
The move is also in line with the association’s aim to better position its members who are students studying at various institutes in Ghana, for the corporate world as well as contribute to development in various sectors.
Speaking to the media in Accra, NANS President Sam Edem emphasised that as a student group, they had realised the importance of seizing the chances that education presents to invest in themselves and unleash their potential to contribute to the development effort.
“We have set out a series of events including a business boot camp for Nigeria students interested in business and entrepreneurship. People like you and I need to take responsibility for our development in various aspects.
“We have to embrace the opportunity of the education we have in Ghana and elsewhere, to make valuable investment in ourselves to give back to our countries beginning here in the diaspora,” he highlighted.
He added: “As part of the Nigeria @63 Independence anniversary, the Union decided to hold a National Development Summit for Nigerian, international and Local students/communities in Ghana. The National Development Summit is open to entertainment, networking, and opportunities for its targeted audience — The Nigerian, international and Local students”.
Exchange rate concerns
Given the persisting instability in the exchange rate between the cedi and naira, Mr. Edem took advantage of the press briefing to appeal to the management of various tertiary institutions across the country to grant its members a grace period for paying their tuition.
He explained that the exchange rate has caused fees to continually rise, and students must wait for additional funding because the cedi value to the naira keeps rising.
“So, while I am putting out the word to our government back home, we would appreciate it if a lot more is done about this issue. And we appeal to our institutions here to give the Nigerian students that allowance for the period to ensure that they can meet their obligations with regard to fees,” he said.
Recent data have shown that there are about 71,000 Nigerian students in Ghana paying about US$1 billion annually as tuition fees and upkeep, as against the annual budget of US$751 million for all federal universities.
Rethink Nigeria
NANS at the press briefing also launched ‘Rethink Nigeria’, a six-month social reorientation campaign targeted at rolling back the negative stereotypes towards the Nigerian Students/Community in Ghana and the diaspora in general.
