The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has
denied visas to some students of Ekiti
State University on the grounds of
Ebola despite the World Health
Organization declaring Nigeria an Ebola
free country.
The students were invited to participate
in ENACTUS 2014 (En trepreneurial
Act ion Us ), an international
competition of young entrepreneurs
involving 36 countries slated for 22 -
24th of October 2014 in China in which
Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Egypt are
to represent Africa. But the Chinese
Embassy here refused to grant the
student visas to go to China.
The Ekiti State University students, who
were picked to represent Nigeria
having won the ENACTUS Promoted
Innovation Competition earlier in the
year, have written an open letter about
the situation. Find it after the cut...
REPRESENTATION OF NIGERIA AT THE
ENACTUS WORLD COMPETITION IN
CHINA: DISCRIMINATORY DENIAL OF
VISA BECAUSE OF EBOLA VIRUS
DISEASE
We write to introduce
ENACTUS ( En trepreneurial Act ion Us ),
an international non-profit
organization that works with leaders in
business and educational Institutions
to mobilize university and polytechnic
students to make economic difference
in their communities while developing
the skills to become socially
responsible business leaders.
We are pleased to inform you
that Students of Ekiti State University
are slated to represent Nigeria this
October in China having won the
ENACTUS Promoted Innovation
Competition earlier in the year. It
should be noted that our institution
along with over 40 others in Nigeria
have worked tirelessly to contribute
positively to the development of our
dear nation Nigeria through the
ENACTUS ( En trepreneurial Action Us)
Platform by embarking on micro
economic impacting projects which has
improved the quality of life and
standard of living of people in our
various communities by stimulating
economic demand for locally produced
products.
Annually, ENACTUS participating
institutions come together to share
their success stories and the institution
with the best innovation that meets all
judging criteria represents Nigeria at
the International competition which is
hosted at different countries. At these
international competitions, Nigeria has
been duly represented over the years
as the leading African country and
most consistent top five institution in
the Final round of the competition. As a
matter of fact, Nigeria, represented by
Kaduna Polytechnic won the Third
position amongst 32 countries at the
international competition which was
held in Mexico October, 2013.
ENACTUS Ekiti State University is to
represent our dear nation Nigeria this
ENACTUS year on October 22 nd-24 th,
2014 at Beijing, China. However, we
have been denied VISA by the Chinese
Embassy to participate at the
competition due to the incidence of the
Ebola Virus in Nigeria this year.
Your Excellency, it is our considered
opinion that this an act of international
discrimination which needs Your
Excellency'surgent attention and
intervention. The concerted effort of
both the Nigerian Government and her
citizens in overcoming the scourge of
the dreaded Ebola virus should be
praised by the international community
rather than it being an excuse for any
country that has a strong bilateral
relationship and economic ties tothe
Federal Government of Nigeria to
prevent or deny citizens of this great
nation theopportunity to promote our
innovation and competitiveness in the
global stage. We believe that this denial
is not only experienced by ENACTUS
Ekiti State University but also so many
Nigerian citizens travelling to China at
this time, we make to the recent
International youth Olympics where the
Nigerian contingent were isolated thus
causing the Hon. Minister for Sports
into recalling the contingent back
home. We therefore believe that if this
trend is not nipped in the bud, Nigeria
may soon become pariah state
amongst the comity of nations starting
the Chinese.
We hereby seek Your Excellency's to
lend a strong voice and action of
Support to tell the world in very loud
and clear voice that Nigeria is Ebola
Free through the ENACTUS EKSU Move
tagged "Nigeria is Ebola Free" to give
every Nigerian access to his / her right
and freedom of association without
intimidation and stigmatization at the
International level.
In view of the above, we have initiated
a social media campaign
#NGIsEbolaFree and we plan to spread
this message through the social media
space to gain international attention.
Please accept the appreciation of our
highest regards as we look forward to a
quick resolution of the issues not only
because of our situation but to save
Nigeria's image.
Yours Sincerely.
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