Zamfara Students Stranded in Cyprus Over Unpaid Fees

Ninety-three Zamfara students on scholarships at Cyprus International University find themselves stranded due to unpaid tuition, accommodation, and feeding allowances, as well as complications with their documentation. This pressing issue was brought to light during a press conference held on Tuesday by Wadatau Madawaki, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Education. He pointed to the previous administration, led by Governor Bello Matawalle, who is now the Minister of State for Defence, as the cause of these students’ hardships.

Madawaki emphasized that the current administration, under Governor Dauda Lawal, is actively working to resolve the outstanding debts that have left these students in a precarious situation. He explained that while some payments had been made in the past, the former government failed to meet its commitments, resulting in nearly a year without necessary support for the students.

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Further complicating matters, the commissioner highlighted that there was no formal agreement between the previous administration and the university, which added to the students’ difficulties. Despite these challenges, he praised Governor Lawal for taking significant steps to address the issue, including efforts to settle the debts and renew expired student documents, ensuring that the students receive the support they need.