The Government of Liberia is tight-lipped on what was announced as a U.S. $25 million program for 250 Liberian students to study abroad, after an assistant minister publicly disclosed that the program is a fraud. On November 6, President Joseph Boakai, accompanied by his foreign and information ministers, launched the Non-Collateral Student Loan Program in partnership with NEKOTECH, a civic organization that claims to empower African youth with global education opportunities in Spain. However, Assistant Information Minister Matthew Nyanplu warned the public in a Facebook post not to invest in the program because, he said, it is committing fraud by extorting money for struggling Liberian students. Nyanplu who was immediately suspended by President Boakai, resigned and spoke to VOA about his allegation. Applicant Neon Sua said she was added to a group of 1,000 other Liberian applicants but could not continue after being asked to pay U.S. $236 as readiness fees for what was announced by the government to be a loan. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saywhar Gbaa has told VOA that the ministry has halted the NEKOTECK scholarship for the time being. Dr. Princess Ocansey, NEKOTECH’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said US-236 dollars is a training fee to prepare students for English proficiency test training. She noted that the fee is also intended for USA school admissions course selection assistance and review loan applications as well as visa interview coaching and applications for national literacy. However, she claimed that the fee has been waived for Liberians for the spring 2025 entry to the USA. Source: Denise Nixon/ VOA daybreak Africa.
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