NANS LEADERSHIP IN PHILIPPINES BEMOANS ORDEALS, SEEKS FOR INTERVENTION TO CHALLENGES FACED BY NIGERIAN STUDENTS IN PHILIPPINES.
The leadership of National Association of Nigerian students in Philippines under the leadership of Rev. Comrade Okoye Chikelue Christian has unveiled oversight provisions for lasting solution to problems and challenges of Nigerian students in the country.
The different challenges which provisions were made for lasting solution includes: Visa renewal delays, Visa renewal denials to students already in schools and Issues of administrative irregularities by some liaison officers without adequate punishment from the management, diplomatic denial of entry for Nigerians after arrival at the Philippines international airport (sending them back to Nigeria immediately after arrival at the airport).
This was contained in a statement released to our heritage Reporter after a joint council orientation/town hall meeting/media chat of the students leaders and other students in Philippines and in the diaspora.
Full details reads:
*ADVISORY TO NIGERIAN STUDENTS IN PHILIPPINES BY THE NANS PRESIDENT*
Amidst the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian Students in Philippines. On behalf of the the Executives and entire Nigerians students in Philippines, we are hereby advised to adequately guide and follow up with our clients (brother/sisters) arriving Philippines airports. A lot of Nigerians has been reportedly denied entry/sent back to Nigerian at the point of arrival for one reason or the other.
Please ensure there is strong evidence your client is coming for studies. Establish an official email correspondence with the institutions with evidence of admissions, enrollment or advanced payment of school fees and contact person upon arrival into the country.
Meanwhile if you are one of those directly or indirectly involved in recruiting people from Nigerian to come over to Philippines for studies, kindly ensure you give your them detailed information on the reality of the situation in this country.
No need sugar coating or painting the situation or exergerating or giving false hopes to unsuspecting or desperate Nigerians who wants to japa. There are some of us in this country passing through avoidable sufferings and depression which ordinarily should not be experience if they remained in Nigeria. The small agency fee/honourium/money you are targeting to to benefit from one or two clients can never be compared to the destiny of the same person if he/she eventually becomes stranded in this foreign land.
Before convincing or bringing anyone to Philippines, endeavour to give the person comprehensive orientation. Give the person realistic idea on the cost of living, accommodation, tuition fee, Visa Renewal protocols, and other recurrent expenses in Philippines.
For those of us who are already here, always apply and renew your students visas at least two months before the expiration date. And the newly arrived students amongst us should report to their Institutions as soon as possible, submit the visa conversion documents through the liaison officers/students desk immigration office to avoid overstay and other penalties from the BI.
However, Nigerian students who are able to diligently comply and fulfill the requirements of the immigration regarding their visa conversion and yearly visa renewals but unduly delayed/denied the opportunity because of administrative shortcomings are directed to report the institutional based immigration liaison officer to the appropriate higher authorities without further hesitation.
– For now, there is no ready made job available for foreigners/Nigerians in Philippines
– For now there is no work and study permit for foreign students/Nigerians in Philippines.
– There is no assurance that Nigerians/foreigners can easily/directly migrate to America/Australia, Canada, Europe or other advanced countries for greener pastures.
– The Nigerian economic situation has been challenging/making it more difficult to Nigerian foreign students to cope with the floating/escalating exchange rates for our tuition and living expenses in the diaspora.
– Make proper findings about the prospective school regarding the cost and implications of embarking on your studies in diaspora. If your parents or sponsors cannot take care of your cost of educational training in Philippines from beginning to end (throughout your expected years of studies until graduation) there is no need coming over here by faith because faith without work (action steps) is dead on arrival.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerians are globally known as hardworking, intelligent, enterprising and dogged set of individuals irrespective of situations or wherever they find themselves, but maximizing such virtures may not be optimally assured especially in a place with limited opportunities and this might affect the chances survival. Although some of us may not adhere to certain system of protocols but I believe this information might be beneficial to some of us especially in time like this. In all we do, in all our efforts and commitment to our primary assignments/studies in this country, I enjoin us to remain good Ambassadors of Nigeria in Philippines.
Details of individual interviews/evidences from the victims or the parents of the victims based on peculiar ordeals and unjust experiences faced by some Nigerian students in Philippines will be released subsequently.
✍️ Rev Comr Okoye Chikelue Chris
_President NANS Philippines Zone (Sat 18th Jan 2025)_
