Students of Enugu State under the aegis of the National Association OF Enugu State Law Students have appealed to the State governor, Peter Mbah to approve the payment of the bursary.
According to the students, the bursary will enable them pay their tuition in pursuit of a career in law at the Nigerian Law school.
In an open letter expressing their grievances to the governor on Sunday 7 January the law students congratulated the governor on his victory upheld by the Supreme Court commending his good works.
They have previously written to the office of the governor twice and the deputy governor with no response.
The students said the sudden increase in tuition has thrown their dream of law into jeopardy.
It will be recalled that Mbah had in October 2023 assured support for the Nigerian Law School in the areas of new infrastructure and rehabilitation of the existing dilapidated structures in the school.
In the letter titled ‘Re: Urgent Appeal for Emergency Financial/Bursary Assistance For Enugu State Law School Students’, signed by National President Stephen Obiora, National Secretary Ugwuoke Obisike and National Public Relations Officer Aguoma Uzoamaka, the students association said said the financial situation will not only be a loss to the students but to the state at large if swift action is not taken.
They said, “Having proudly completed our undergraduate studies in Law, we stand poised at the precipice of the final hurdle before joining the ranks of dedicated legal minds serving our state: the Nigerian Law School programme.
“However, Your Excellency, a sudden and significant increase in fees from N296,000 to N476,000 coupled with a severely limited payment window has thrown our aspirations into jeopardy. This exorbitant fee hike, paired with the short deadline, has thrust us into a financial abyss, threatening to extinguish the flames of hope we have so meticulously nurtured through years of dedicated study.
“This financial issue has put a full worrisome burden in us…denying us access to the Law School because of this sudden financial burden would not only be a personal tragedy for each of us, but also a significant loss to Enugu State legal profession which you are also part of Your Excellency.”
While remaining silent on the next course of action, the students said they are making a desperate plea that the governor act swiftly and grant them emergency bursary assistance.
“We firmly believe that providing an emergency bursary assistance to bridge this financial gap would represent a swift and impactful investment in the future of Enugu State. We humbly appeal Your Excellency to consider our plight with the utmost urgency and extend a lifeline of bursary/financial assistance. This is not merely a request for financial aid; it is a plea for an investment in the future of Enugu State. Every legal mind saved from this financial bottleneck represents a future champion of justice and progress for our state,” the statement added.
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