TheCable

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says tertiary institutions are now pledging to absorb Nigerian students evacuated from Sudan.

A total of 2,246 stranded Nigerians had already been evacuated from Sudan back to their home country in 12 batches as of May 11.

This followed the violent power struggle between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s military leader, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The two rival generals are battling for control of the resource-rich North African nation.

The ongoing conflict has left hundreds dead, thousands wounded, and many others displaced.

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had stated that university students evacuated from Sudan would be transferred to Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Abike Dabiri, chairperson of NIDCOM, now says that the commission has been receiving pledges from tertiary institutions interested in absorbing the Nigerian evacuees.

Dabiri listed some of the institutions as including Igbinedion University in Edo state, Summit University in Kwara state, and the American University in Gambia.

The NIDCOM boss gave details when she received Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, the vice-chancellor of Igbinedion University, in Abuja.

Dabiri said the pledges will be relayed to the students and those who are interested will have to follow pre-set procedures.

“We were with JAMB and JAMB has given conditions, process and guidelines to follow,” she added.

“The key thing is, even if they have come to you and you have admitted them, we will need that letter from JAMB saying JAMB has given them admission letter.

“This is so we avoid situations that after graduation they can’t go for youth service.”

After the commission’s meeting with JAMB, NIDCOM was intimated on the guidelines by which the evacuees are expected to work out their transfer and continue their respective academic programmes in Nigeria.