In a tragic tale of broken promises and systemic failure, Nigerian scholar Jacobs Williams Okpe has died in Manchester, United Kingdom, after nearly a decade of waiting for the disbursement of his PhD scholarship — part of a prestigious national honour awarded in 2015 by the Nigerian government.
Okpe, one of 164 exceptional Nigerian youths recognised by then-President Goodluck Jonathan for their outstanding contributions to rural development and community service, was promised a comprehensive three-tier reward: a fully-funded Master’s degree, a PhD scholarship, and federal employment. While around 80 recipients — largely under the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) — were swiftly funded and have since completed their doctorates, Okpe was among the remaining 86 left behind in a bureaucratic quagmire.
He died on May 18, reportedly overwhelmed by emotional and psychological distress stemming from the federal government’s failure to honour its commitment. His dream of earning a PhD and giving back to Nigeria through academic and national service was extinguished, leaving behind a pregnant wife and a young child.
SaharaReporters gathered that Okpe had completed his Master’s programme under the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) but never received funding for the PhD portion of the award or the promised federal job placement.
Despite years of lobbying, formal petitions, and peaceful protests — including two major demonstrations in 2018 — the Nigerian government has remained largely silent, offering no concrete updates or timelines. The affected scholars have reportedly made repeated appeals to the Federal Ministry of Education, National Assembly, and even the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Still, their voices echo in a void.
Okpe’s final messages in a WhatsApp group of affected awardees reveal a man gripped by despair. He warned fellow scholars that advocating too publicly might attract retaliation from anti-graft agencies like the ICPC. “He was afraid. He said if he joined the clamour for the release of our PhD scholarship funds, he might be investigated,” one group member recalled. “He posted nine messages — all about the scholarship delays — just before his death.”
Adding insult to injury, disparities in scholarship disbursements have also surfaced. One scholar disclosed receiving £12,000 in living allowances for the Master’s programme, while another from a different geopolitical region reportedly received £21,000 — a staggering difference that raises disturbing questions about equity and transparency within the FSB.
“The government gave with one hand and withheld with the other,” lamented another recipient. “Our PhD scholarships were meant to be a symbol of national pride and encouragement for excellence. Instead, they’ve become a decade-long nightmare.”
The loss of Jacobs Williams Okpe has become a searing symbol of the consequences of state negligence. For many, his death represents more than a personal tragedy — it is a damning indictment of a system that rewards excellence with indifference.
“I am shattered,” said one scholar. “Eighty-two awardees have completed their PhDs and moved on with their lives. We — the forgotten 86 — are left to beg, wait, and now mourn.”
A fellow awardee, in a grief-stricken eulogy, wrote: “A sad day for all NYSC Presidential Awardees. We lost a friend, a brother, and a beacon of excellence. William Okpe was crowned the Best Male NYSC Corps Member in 2015 at Aso Rock. Now he’s gone — just like that.”
His death also comes in the wake of similar complaints from other government-sponsored students. In March 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Nigerian students on Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarships abroad were also suffering due to delayed stipends, with many plunged into dire living conditions.
Okpe’s passing underscores a haunting reality: in Nigeria, promises made to its brightest minds are often never kept. His story now stands as a rallying cry for justice, accountability, and a complete overhaul of a scholarship system that has failed its most deserving beneficiaries.
“What will become of his pregnant wife and little baby?” asked a heartbroken colleague. It’s a question that demands an answer — not just for Okpe’s family, but for the future of Nigerian youth who dare to dream.
PIONEER NEWS 