FG, NNPC mute on outcries for scholarship to Okafor after offering Bugaje
Since this week, there has been a trending anger on social media claiming that the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru announced award of scholarship to an Electrical/Electronic Engineering graduate, Al-amin Bugaje, who got 4.93 CGPA from ABU, Zaria, leaving Tochukwu Okafor, who scored higher at 4.95CGPA on same field of study from University of Benin.
It was not clear if NNPC has a policy of granting scholarship to best graduating students in the field before now.
However, efforts to find out from both schools on the reality of the results failed, but analysts say if the trending story is fake, both schools would have before now, reacted to say there is nothing like that after all.
The anger of followers of the trend rose to the crescendo when it was discovered that Okafor’s result who scored higher, was announced days before that of Bugaje.
Many who commented on the developing story queried why NNPC and the federal government had maintained sealed lips and even ears on the matter, saying the silence can be easily matched with part of the grievances of Independent people of Biafra (IPOB) that is forcing them to seek session.
Efforts to get reactions from the management of NNPC on the matter on Tuesday failed even as the trending has gone viral both in Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and even Instagram.
Calls made to the Minister of Information were not wither answered or returned.
The story trended as sent: “Few days ago, social media was ablaze with the celebration of Tochukwu Okafor who carted away EVERY award in Engineering from UNIBEN namely: Best Graduating Student, University of Benin — Dean’s Prize to the Best Graduating Student in academic performance, Faculty of Engineering. — Department Prize to the Best Graduating Student, Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. — Nigerian Society of Engineers Prize to the Best Overall Graduating Student in the Faculty of Engineering. — Arch. Aminu Abubakar Prize to the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. — Nicholas and Victoria Osifo Memorial Scholarship to the Best Graduating Student in Engineering.
“He graduated with a stunning 4.95CGPA in almighty Engineering
“Days after, Al-amin Bugaje from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) was named overall best student with 4.93 CGPA from Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering.
“He was IMMEDIATELY offered scholarship up to PhD, by the GMD of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru in any university of his choice in the world.
However, the anger of many who commented on the development lies on the fact that “Tochukwu who graduated with a higher CGPA was ignored by NNPC GMD”.
Commentators argued further that “Both of them graduated in Electrical Engineering, so it can’t be said that one merits it than the other.”
Facebook followers stressed that “The money that will be used to send Al-Amin Bugaje to the best university in the world is a commonwealth for all Nigerians but managed by NNPC”.
