A student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has called for greater transparency and accountability regarding a scholarship initiative reportedly implemented during the administration of former Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Emmanuel Obo.
In a statement made available to the public, the student questioned a claim contained in Obo’s farewell address that 50 students benefited from a Presidential Scholarship through the payment of their school fees during his tenure.
While acknowledging that such an initiative, if successfully executed, would be commendable, the student argued that the university community deserves clarity on how the programme was carried out.
According to the statement, key questions remain unanswered, including when the scholarship was announced, the eligibility criteria and selection process, the identities of the beneficiaries, and why no official list or public testimonials have been presented.
The student maintained that the demand for clarification should not be interpreted as a personal attack on the former SUG leadership but as a call for openness and accountability in student governance.
The statement also referenced a scholarship programme implemented during the administration of former SUG President Blessing Alims Ojisor, noting that beneficiaries and the selection process were publicly known, which, according to the student, enhanced confidence in the initiative.
The student further stressed that the credibility of any administration is strengthened by verifiable records, documented achievements, and transparency rather than claims made after leaving office.
“Accountability is not opposition, questions are not hatred, and transparency is not weakness,” the statement read, urging the former SUG administration to publish relevant records if the scholarship was indeed awarded to 50 students.
The student concluded that genuine achievements are best measured by verifiable impact and the testimonies of beneficiaries, calling on former student leaders to uphold accountability even after leaving office.
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