FG, NANS Strengthen Collaboration on Welfare and Protection of Overseas Students

Federal Government has pledged to collaborate with NANS to improve the welfare, protection, consular services, and overall support for Nigerian students studying abroad through sustained engagement and strategic partnerships.

The commitment was made during a strategic engagement between officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a high-powered delegation of NANS led by the association’s Director of Diaspora and International Students Affairs, Daniel Oyeniyi.

According to a statement issued by Oyeniyi on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was represented at the meeting by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Ezinne Osigwe.

Speaking during the engagement, Oyeniyi expressed concern over what he described as the disconnect between the ministry and Nigerian students in the diaspora, saying many students abroad had been left without adequate institutional support.

“I expressed my deep concern over the disconnect between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian students in the diaspora.

“I also expressed my dissatisfaction with the manner in which Nigerian students abroad are often treated and pointed out that there are inadequate provisions to cater for their overall welfare,” he said.

He said NANS proposed collaboration with the ministry in areas including student welfare and protection, enhanced consular services, student data and engagement, policy advocacy, career and professional development, crisis management, promotion of Nigeria’s image abroad, academic partnerships, reintegration and regular dialogue.

“We seek collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on improved student welfare and protection, enhanced consular services, student data and engagement, policy advocacy, career and professional development, a crisis management framework, academic and international partnerships, reintegration and nation-building, and regular dialogue and representation,” Oyeniyi added.

Responding, Osigwe apologised for the absence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, noting that he was attending another official engagement.

She assured the student leaders of the ministry’s readiness to work with NANS to address issues affecting Nigerian students overseas.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully prepared to collaborate with the leadership of NANS, particularly in advancing the interests of Nigerian students in the diaspora,” she said.

According to Osigwe, the disconnect experienced by Nigerian students abroad was not intentional but resulted from the absence of sustained engagement between the ministry and diaspora student leaders.

“The disconnect experienced in the past was not deliberate but largely resulted from the absence of sustained engagement by the leadership of Nigerian students in the diaspora,” she said.

She added that the ministry had embraced the proposed areas of collaboration and would sustain the partnership to ensure the concerns of Nigerian students abroad receive adequate attention.

“The Ministry is committed to ensuring that the concerns of Nigerian students in the diaspora receive the attention they deserve,” she added.

Oyeniyi described the meeting as a major step towards improving support for Nigerian students abroad, pledging to continue advocating for their interests.

“Let me be clear: as the Global Director of Diaspora and International Students, who engages with Nigerian students in the diaspora daily and serves as a bridge between the diaspora student community, the national leadership of NANS, and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I will continue to advocate for and defend the overall interests of Nigerian students abroad,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the collaboration would ease challenges faced by Nigerian students studying overseas.

“This newly established collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs will undoubtedly bring much-needed relief to Nigerian students in the diaspora as we continue to pursue initiatives and partnerships that will make studying outside the shores of Nigeria easier and more rewarding,” Oyeniyi said.