TheCable

Some Nigerian students studying in private Turkish universities have been transferred to public schools owing to the closure of their institutions as a result of the failed coup in the country.

Hakan Cakil, Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, disclosed this, saying the students will pay little or no tuition in their new place of study.

According to Bem Goong, deputy director of press and public relations in the ministry of education, Cakil revealed this when he paid a courtesy call on Adamu Adamu, the minister of education.

“All students affected by the closure have been moved to public varsities nearest to them,” Goong quoted Cakil as saying.

“No Nigerian student would be allowed to suffer the effects of the closure… Any student electing to return to Nigeria will be doing so as a matter of choice.”

Responding, Adamu expressed profound gratitude to the Turkish government “for paying special attention to the wellbeing and safety of Nigerian students”.

He assured the envoy that the government of Nigeria would continue to work hard to deepen educational cooperation with Turkey as well as boost the overall bilateral relationship between the two countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was almost killed in the attempt of a faction of the military to overthrow his government.

Erdogan had called on the people to troop out to the streets, and defend his government.

Later, forces loyal to the government overpowered the rebellious soldiers.

Turkey has accused Fethullah Gullen, a US-based cleric, of being behind the botched coup, demanding his extradition.

The Turkish government also called on the Nigerian government to shut down 17 Turkish schools over their alleged links to Gullen’s movement.

Gullen has since denied all the allegations.