Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has called out Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, for celebrating his son’s graduation from a UK university despite what he described as a failure to improve the Nigerian education system during his tenure.
Wike recently took to social media to celebrate his son, Jordan, who earned a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Queen Mary University of London. In his post, he expressed joy and pride in his son’s academic achievements, stating, “Happy to witness, alongside my wife, the graduation ceremony of our son, Jordan, who just earned a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree at the Queen Mary University of London, UK. As a father, I am happy for the progress Jordan is making in the pursuit of his career.”
Reacting to the post, Sowore criticized Wike for prioritizing his son’s education abroad while neglecting the development of quality schools in Nigeria. He described Wike’s actions as a “crying shame,” highlighting Wike’s past roles as a two-term governor of Rivers State, a former Minister of Education, and now FCT Minister.
“You were governor for eight years in Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states. You looted the state dry and couldn’t build a single school where your children could earn a Master’s in Law. What a crying shame!” Sowore wrote.
He further accused Wike of using public funds to finance his son’s foreign education. “Nyesom Wike was Ex-local government Chairman (two terms), Ex-Minister of Education (4 years), Ex-Governor of Rivers State (two terms-8 years), and Current FCT Minister yet Wike could not build a school good enough to send his children to study. He needs to send them to UK schools with stolen funds,” Sowore added.
This criticism has reignited debates about Nigerian leaders’ reliance on foreign education for their children while local schools remain underfunded and underdeveloped. Many Nigerians on social media expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting Sowore’s stance and others defending Wike’s right to provide the best opportunities for his family.
As public discussions on education reform and accountability continue, the disparity between Nigeria’s struggling education sector and the choices made by its political elite remains a topic of national concern.
