The Federal Government has reportedly declined sponsorship for 15-year-old Agbo Adoga, a Nigerian student who scored a perfect SAT and qualified to represent the country at the International Mathematics Olympiad in China.
According to education advocate Alex Onyia, Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, where Agbo studies, disclosed that the Ministry of Education stated it had no funds to sponsor any participant for the competition.
Alex Onyia laments poor education funding
Onyia lamented the development, describing it as another missed opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its academic talent on the global stage.
He further explained that individual or private sponsorship was not permitted since Agbo would be representing Nigeria officially at the event.
The young prodigy’s parents reportedly expressed their willingness to fund the trip but were unable to proceed due to the ministry’s regulations.
“Graceland International School, PortHarcourt just informed me that Agbo Adoga qualified to represent Nigeria in international Maths Olympiad in China.
Nigerian Ministry of Education said they don’t have money to sponsor anybody.
So he will not attend.
Nigeria lost again!” Alex Onyia wrote.
When asked whether individuals cannot contribute, Onyia wrote:
“Unfortunately, it must come from the Federal Ministry of Education. He will be flying the Nigerian flag at the global stage alongside students from all other countries in the world.
Individual sponsorship is not allowed. The parents would have happily done that.”
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