By Mike Mbonye
Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Martin Cobham, says ex- Niger Delta agitators undergoing training in some South African Institutions are doing well.
Cobham told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday that more than 40 students were undergoing training in various institutions in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province of that country.
“The students are undergoing professional trainings in engineering, law, analytical chemistry, education, arts, vocational studies and disciplines in social sciences,’’ he said.
Cobham said that the mission recently visited the students to know how they were doing and offered assistance where necessary.
According to him, the challenge of the students is irregular payment of their stipends and related up keep matters.
“The mission has continually intervened by occasionally providing them with stipends, advice and talking to their parent office in Abuja headed by retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh to do the needful.
“The mission has also ensured that the students do not do anything that will dent the image of the nation,’’ he said.
The high commissioner also said “it is our foreign policy thrust that the missions abroad must ensure that the welfare of Nigerians abroad are taken care off.
“The missions must ensure that every Nigerian abroad gets good welfare, even during trials; we ensure that the person gets fair trial.
“This has been one the sign post of Nigeria`s foreign policy to which the missions that are the outpost of our ministry abroad adhere to,’’ he said.
Cobham said some of the students had been in the institutions for three years and were doing well.
