Global Pathways and Kaplan have made it possible for many international high school students to study in American Universities such as Northeastern, Merrimack College and Pace. According to Global Pathways website, “Students will receive personalized support with cultural assimilation outside of the classroom, making it easy to adapt to college student life and the US academic system. Once admitted to the Global Pathways course, students are guaranteed acceptance to the university as long as they meet the requirements and successfully complete the course. After successful completion of Global Pathways, you will begin your course of study as a full time undergraduate or graduate student at the university you have chosen, and you will be prepared for a prosperous academic future at a top American University.”
In an effort to give some Nigerian students the opportunity to study abroad, and his continued initiative on education, President Jonathan Goodluck partnered with Global Pathways and Kaplan. Through this partnership, Global Pathways chose 100 students from the Niger Delta, an oil producing region that witnessed a period of unrest when the youth of the land protested gross poverty, unemployment and unfair distribution of wealth even though oil is produced in the region. The students received full scholarships, courtesy of the Nigerian government, to attend Northeastern University. They arrived America on May 26th (Memorial Day) to take the Global Pathways course and begin their University courses in the summer.
The students were accompanied by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku. Speaking on President Goodluck’s resolve on education, “That is what the world must understand, that here is a president who believes in the education of young boys and girls,” said Kuku
At the graduation on May 14, 2014, Hon. Kingsley Kuku said: “I use the opportunity of this event to join millions of other God-fearing Nigerians to tell Boko Haram and its backers to quickly release the young girls that were dastardly abducted at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State so that they can continue their education just like the kids we are celebrating today.”
Veronica Adesina
