A Corps Liaison Officer (CLO) in Enugu East LGA, Enugu State, has been accused of assaulting two female members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a meeting last Saturday.

The CLO allegedly intimidated the victims and later boasted of being “untouchable” due to his connections with NYSC officials.

The incident was brought to public attention when a relative of one of the victims shared details on X (formerly Twitter) via the handle @JoiceofLagos, claiming that the police were pressured to drop the case after law enforcement officers were involved.

In response, the African Women in Public Service (AWiPS) issued a statement condemning the assault on Monday.

The statement, signed by Ugo Agwu-Nnachi, President of AWiPS, expressed outrage at the alleged abuse of power and intimidation. The organization demanded immediate and transparent action, including a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims.

Agwu-Nnachi stated, “We are deeply disturbed by reports of an alleged assault by a CLO in Enugu State. The claims of abuse of power and a subsequent cover-up are serious violations of the victims’ rights and dignity, and require urgent redress.”

The statement also highlighted concerns that law enforcement had been pressured to abandon the case, leaving the victims vulnerable to further threats.

AWiPS called for a transparent investigation and urged the NYSC to take all necessary steps to ensure justice is served promptly.

“This incident is not an isolated case but a wake-up call for systemic change within the NYSC program,” Agwu-Nnachi added.

AWiPS reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the safety and dignity of all women and girls in public service, pledging to closely monitor the case to ensure justice.

International students seeking opportunities to study abroad can access various fully funded scholarships for the 2025 academic year.

These scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, and sometimes airfare, offering students a chance to study at top universities without the burden of financial constraints.

However, many of these scholarships have application deadlines approaching soon, with most of them closing before March 2025.

According to DAAD Scholarship, a wide range of fully funded scholarships are available for international students hoping to study in Europe, Asia, and North America.

These scholarships typically provide comprehensive support, including tuition fees, stipends, and in some cases, travel costs and health insurance. Below is a list of fully funded scholarships for the 2025 intake, with details about their benefits and deadlines.

UK scholarships 

Several prestigious scholarships in the UK are available for students who wish to study there.

1. Chevening Scholarships (UK): 

Chevening is the UK government’s international scholarship program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office along with partner organizations. It offers fully funded awards for a one-year master’s degree in the UK.

Selected students enjoy benefits like full tuition coverage, access to top-quality education, exclusive networking opportunities, and the chance to experience the UK’s diverse culture.

Application Deadline: January 2nd, 2025

Official Link: Chevening Scholarships

2. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (UK):

This scholarship supports talented professionals and academics from Commonwealth countries who are unable to afford studying in the UK. It is aimed at postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries who haven’t studied in high-income countries for more than a year, and who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home country.

Application Deadline: December 12th, 2024

Apply here: Commonwealth Scholarships

Scholarships for study in Asia 

Asia also offers multiple scholarship opportunities for international students, particularly in countries like Japan, China, and South Korea.

3. Royal Thai Asian Institute of Technology Scholarship 2025:

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) offers Doctoral and Master’s level scholarships funded by the Royal Thai Government (RTG) to qualified candidates from Thailand and other Asian countries. These scholarships allow students from diverse backgrounds to study and conduct research in an international environment at AIT, promoting greater understanding among people in Asia.

Application deadline: February 28th, 2025

Official Link: AIT Scholarship

4. Kagoshima university graduate scholarship 2025 (Japan):

The scholarship aims to address global challenges such as resource sustainability, environmental conservation, and the effects of climate change, particularly in rural communities. The university seeks to recruit international students for the 2025 academic year, offering scholarships to students from Southeast Asia and Africa.

Application deadline: January 31st, 2025
Benefits: Full tuition fees, monthly stipend, and travel costs.

Apply here

Scholarships for study in europe

Europe is home to numerous scholarship opportunities, with various benefits available to international students.

5. Belgium ICP connect fully funded scholarship 2025:

The ICP Connect Scholarships are fully funded VLIR-UOS scholarships for exceptional students from select countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These scholarships support studies in specific programs and cover tuition, travel expenses, insurance, and living costs. A strong application will improve your chances of being selected.

Application deadline: February 28th, 2025
Benefits: Tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel allowance, and accommodation.

Official Link: Belgium Scholarship

6. University of Twente scholarship 2025 for non-EU/EER students:

The University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) is for outstanding students from non-EU/EER countries applying for a graduate (MSc) program at the University of Twente. This scholarship helps cover study-related costs, and students can choose how to use the funds. It does not cover tuition fees directly.

Application deadline: February 1st, 2025
Benefits: Up to €22,000

Apply here: University of Twente Scholarship

Scholarships for study in China 

China offers numerous fully funded scholarship options, especially for students pursuing higher education.

7. Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU) CSC Scholarship 2025

The CSC High-Level Postgraduate Program is a fully funded scholarship provided by the Chinese government for international students to pursue postgraduate degrees in China. SNNU is an institution that participates in this program and invites exceptional international students to apply. SNNU will recommend top candidates to CSC, and final admission will be decided by CSC.

Application deadline: February 3rd, 2025

Official Link: SNNU Scholarship

8. Nanjing University scholarship 2025:

The Chinese Government Scholarship is offered by the Chinese government to help students and scholars from around the world study and research at Chinese universities. The scholarship aims to promote mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation between China and other countries in areas such as education, technology, culture, and economics.

Application Deadline: January 20th, 2025

Benefits: Full funding, including tuition, accommodation, and a monthly allowance.

Apply here: Nanjing University Scholarship

Application process and deadlines 

• Many of these scholarships require candidates to submit application forms, academic transcripts, and other supporting documents by specific deadlines.
• These deadlines are fast approaching, with many closing before March 2025. Interested students are advised to carefully review each scholarship’s official link for detailed instructions and eligibility requirements.

The house of representatives committee on polytechnics and other higher technical education says it is shocking that a tertiary institution would spend N496m in one year on salaries with only 142 students enrolled.

The management of Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross Rivers stood before a reps panel to defend its budget performance for 2024.

Edward Okey, the polytechnic’s rector, had submitted the institution’s budget performance report to the committee.

As part of its ongoing oversight function, the reps committee had summoned federal polytechnics and other technical institutions from the south-south.

The invited institutions include Federal Polytechnic Orogun, Federal Polytechnic Ugep, Federal Polytechnic of Oil & Gas Bonny, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, and Federal Polytechnic Ekowe.

Also invited were the Federal Polytechnic Ukana and the National Institute of Construction Technology Management Uromi.

The reps committee expressed shock that Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross Rivers State would spend over N600 million on personnel (salaries) and overhead (running) costs in one budget cycle despite having only 142 students and 154 academic and non-academic staff.

The committee’s chairman Fouad Kayode Laguda and members were also angered that it also spent N38 million on local travel.

In his presentation, the rector said the institution spent its N2 Billion take-off grant to renovate the abandoned, dilapidated structures of Ugep Community Secondary School which it used as its temporary campus.

He said the polytechnic put up structures on the Institute of Technology Management (ITM) which he said they have eventually taken over as its permanent site.

“Our school was established in 2021. When we went to Ugep, we were to start the school at a temporary site in the state Polytechnic called the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM). But we could not get the state Polytechnic to start the school,” the rector said.

“So, the first challenge we had was to identify a temporary site to start the school to take off. That took us more than a year because Ugep is not a town, it’s a village. It’s a big town, but it’s a local town. To get a school for us to start was not an easy task.

“After going around the village, we ended up with dilapidated buildings of a secondary school called Ugep Community Secondary School. The Principal of that school told us that, those buildings were abandoned for 25 years.

“So, we have to renovate those buildings. It took us more than one year to renovate those buildings for us to start. With our 2022 take-up, we identified a permanent site. We started different projects, about 10 projects on the permanent site.

“Some are at different levels of completion. Getting students and staff in Ugep has not been an easy task, because of some kind of stigma that Ugep carries.

“We started, we had 16 students, but this year, we have admitted 63 so far, so we have a total of 79. So, invariably, we have performed more than the school that started 12 years ago. Now, we have a total of 132. We took over the students and staff of ITM.”

A member of the reps committee, after an observation, described the spending by the institution as “a waste” and “unsustainable”.

“It is high time we tell ourselves the truth. If you have 142 students, that’s like an elementary school,” he added.

“In my village, we have a primary school. The students there are more than 500. A Polytechnic, a federal polytechnic for that matter has 142 students and your personnel is N496 million, almost N500 million, for a school that has 142 students.

“Your overhead is N159 million, for a school that has 142 students. Your capital is N25 million. What is the justification for these spendings?”

Fuad Kayode Laguda, while addressing the rectors at the end of the sitting, said the committee was disappointed by the poor presentation of the institutions.

“We called schools from south-south for an oversight. Not one met requirements or did what was expected,” he said.

“We are going to request that you’re going to come back. Every single school of you. And when you come back, you have to come back with your complete team. To come and re-present your reports.

“See the clerk after now to give you requirements of what is expected of your budget review. We will, in less than a week, recall you here to come and make this presentation.”