President of the Nigerian Diaspora Youth Ambassadors speaks on warning by Abike Dabiri-Erewa to students about studying in north Cyprus

The president of the Nigerian Diaspora Youth Ambassadors (NDYA), Amb. Comr. David Victor Alozie has spoken out about a recent publication by the Punch Newspaper dated August 24th, 2020 credited to the CEO of the Nigerians in Disapora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa. 

The news paper quoted Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as saying “Stop sending children to schools in Northern Cyprus” on the grounds that “It was too risky to send children to the schools in Northern Cyprus as hundreds of Nigerian youths had been killed there mysteriously without any conclusive investigations carried out.”

The above statement is filled with misinformation, and for the most part, not in anyway close to the present reality of Nigerian youths in Northern Cyprus.

To begin with, I can not entirely countermand  some recorded cases of conflict resulting in deaths and Injuries between fellow Nigerians nor between Nigerians and Turkish youths. There has been a history of those few cases and I censure  in the strongest possible terms those adverse developments. There is no doubt that there are Criminal behavior in every country but it is never a norm here in Northern Cyprus. When life has brought different individuals from different parts of the world to the same community , it is essential that we value  our differences and coexist in harmony.

Furthermore, My heart goes out to the  to the families of all victims and individuals caught in the cross-fire of criminal deaths throughout the world.

Cyprus Just like any other country has its flaws in some ways but never have we had such far- fetched  incidences of over 100 deaths of Nigerian students. This is an inaccurate information and perhaps Punch Newspaper as a National Daily should have first carried out investigation to ascertain the veracity of Hon. Dabiri-Erewa’s position before publishing. 

Nonetheless, With deference and respect, I wish to debunk Hon. Dabiri-Erewa’s position on the account that it subverts the joint efforts to the solutions that are effectively and constantly proffered  to our challenges as Nigerian youths in Northern Cyprus-Turkey.

As someone who received an education in north Cyprus it is a known fact that Cyprus is a very peaceful and tranquil Island. 

To say the least, The Nigerians who have died here have done so because of many reasons including the use of Hard drugs leading them to making impulsive and life threatening decisions.There has never been a time from immemorial till present  that over 100 Nigerian students were  mysteriously killed in mysterious circumstances in Northern Cyprus.

As the President of the Nigerian Diaspora Youth Ambassadors, and an ex-commissioner member of the NANS Turkish zone, the welfare and safety of the Nigerians in Northern Cyprus is our responsibility. So is the correction of inaccurate, and or negative impressions of the Nigerian community in Diaspora.

I urge youths and parents whose wards are in Northern Cyprus to remain at ease and lay down any worry caused by this misinformation. Numerous Nigerians graduated in different schools all around Northern Cyprus and are doing well, contributing to global development and reaching the zenith  of their careers.

I encourage the Nigerian government to as matter of importance, promote and further define greater prospects in the educational sector. Parents on the other should constantly inspire and instill discipline in their children to be of good behaviour and contribute significantly to the growth and development of their host countries.

I also call on investigate journalists, media practitioners, the press and other independent researchers to dig deep and unravel whether or not Hon. Dabiri-Erewa’s position is true. 

As a youth, patriotic Nigerian and concerned leader working to protect the interests of Nigerian youths and determined to allay emerging fears, I humbly disagree with her excellency. This is highly sensitive information that should not be swept under the carpet . If her excellency has ever paid Northern Cyprus a visit, she would have voices her opinions from an informed perspective using the language of diplomacy, but her outburst was unfortunate to say the least.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Amb. Comr. David Victor Alozie
Ambassador of The NDYA. Europe  Zone.