Nigerian student prize winners denied Canada visa

August 03 2009 by Matt Jones

Software prize winners denied Canada visa

Two students were unable to enter a school competition after they were denied entra visas by Canadian immigration officals. it was suggested that their student status made them a high risk for running away if given a visa for Canada.

Oluwaseun Oyewole and Adeolu Adeyemi are both 16-years old and from Nigeria. They are currently studying at Thomas Adewumi International College in Kwara State, South Africa.

Oyewole said: "I have travelled abroad several times before. In my passport I have UK, American and French visas. So I was shocked when I learned the Canadian embassy denied us visas because they said we would run away."

The Managing Director of ReadManna Ventures Limited, Edna Agusto is the one who presented the papers for the childrens Canada visa application and she said:

“It's obvious the visa officer didn't look at the papers we submitted. If not, why should they be denied visas because of their current employment situation when they are students and not workers? When they came to Lagos to collect their prizes, they even came in their uniforms."

The Nigerian government has been criticized for its inaction over the matter and there is anger about the negative image that Nigerians have in other countries. Phone calls and text messages about the student's visa appliction that were sent to the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs were left unanswered.

John Adewumi, founder of the boys' school said:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to do more for Nigerians of all cadre to get better respect from the various Consular Offices.”

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