Lawmaker Warns Parents Against Cyprus University
The Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, on Thursday warned parents against sending their wards to study at the Cyprus International University, CIU, Nicosa, in North Cyprus.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa gave the warning in a press statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES in Abuja.
The legislator accused the school’s authorities of nonchalance about the demise of Gabriel Soriwei, a former 20-year-old first year student of Electrical/Electronic/Engineering at the Cyprus International University.
Mr. Soriwei was knocked down by a driver on July 13, 2013.
He went into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013. Five days after his demise, the university authorities flew his remains back to Nigeria.
Nigerians, especially the deceased person’s family, have condemned the manner in which the school handled the situation.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, warned Nigerians to be wary of the authorities of school who she said are moving to lure Nigerian students.
“The House Committee on Diaspora has drawn the attention of Nigerians to a suspicious move by the authorities of Cyprus International University, Nicosa, North Cyprus to lure Nigerian students to their university,” Ms. Dabiri – Erewa said.
She accused the CIU of conniving with North Cyprus to facilitate the release of the driver and shield her identity from the family of the deceased.
The Director, International Office of CIU, Patrick Douse, on Tuesday apologised to the Soriwei family over the Institutions nonchalance.
He explained that the identity of the driver that knocked Gabriel down was being withheld by the police because investigations were still ongoing.
Ms. Dabiri – Erewa recounted the death of another Nigerian, a musician from Bayelsa State, Stanley Ateimo. He was allegedly murdered during a disagreement with a white student over a girl in Nicosa on August 12, 2013.
She said Nigerians should be wary of the school’s team which was headed to Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Uyo leaving out Benin and Bayelsa, home states of Messrs Soriwei and Ateimo. Source: PremiumTimes
