Ogona Anita
Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is facing renewed public scrutiny and criticism following the graduation of his son from a prestigious university in the United Kingdom, a development that has reignited long-standing debates over his past policies on foreign education and the controversial termination of an overseas scholarship scheme for Rivers State students during his tenure as governor.
The controversy erupted after Wike took to social media to celebrate his son, Joaquin Wike, who recently completed a Master of Science degree in Management and Technology Change at King’s College London. In a post shared on his official Facebook page, the former Rivers State governor expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness what he described as a “moment of joy” in his son’s academic journey. He also acknowledged the presence of his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Wike, their children, and several political associates who accompanied him to the graduation ceremony.
While the post was meant to mark a personal milestone, it instead triggered a wave of criticism, particularly from Rivers State indigenes and civil society voices who recalled Wike’s earlier public condemnation of Nigerians studying abroad and his decision, as governor, to discontinue a foreign scholarship programme that had enabled thousands of Rivers youths to pursue education overseas.
At the heart of the backlash is the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) scholarship scheme, introduced under the administration of former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The programme sponsored over 2,000 students to study abroad in countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, India, Singapore and the Netherlands. Beneficiaries were enrolled in critical fields such as medicine, engineering, natural sciences and social sciences, with the stated goal of building a globally competitive human capital base for the state.
However, when Wike assumed office as governor in 2015, the programme was discontinued. Reports at the time indicated that many students were left stranded overseas, facing unpaid tuition fees, accommodation challenges and the sudden withdrawal of allowances. Some were reportedly forced to return home prematurely, while others struggled to survive abroad, plunging families into financial and emotional distress.
Wike defended the decision at the time, arguing that it was wasteful to spend public funds sending students abroad to study courses that could be offered in Nigerian universities. In a video interview aired on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily shortly after he took office, Wike specifically criticised the practice of sponsoring students to study law and similar disciplines overseas, insisting that such programmes should be pursued locally.
That stance has now returned to the spotlight following his son’s graduation in the UK. Critics argue that the development exposes a contradiction between Wike’s public posture and his private choices, with many accusing him of hypocrisy.
Port Harcourt-based youth activist, Charles Jaja, was among those who voiced strong opposition. He described Wike’s actions as “hypocritical in all ramifications,” recalling how the former governor pulled Rivers State students out of foreign universities on the grounds that the courses they were studying were available in Nigeria.
“Years back, former Governor Wike pulled out all Rivers children sent abroad to study at various foreign universities by Rotimi Amaechi’s administration, claiming that Amaechi wasted Rivers money,” Jaja said. “Today, he is celebrating the graduation of his own son in the UK. Is this not hypocrisy?”
Jaja further questioned why Wike did not allow his son to study in a Nigerian institution such as Rivers State University or any other local university, accusing the former governor of inflicting injustice on students whose educational dreams were cut short by the abrupt cancellation of the scholarship scheme.
Beyond the education debate, Wike has also drawn criticism for travelling to the United Kingdom at a time when the Federal Capital Territory is grappling with an industrial crisis. Workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) recently embarked on an indefinite strike, leading to the shutdown of government offices across Abuja.
The strike, declared by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), was triggered by unresolved grievances including unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, delayed promotions, non-remittance of pension contributions and National Housing Fund deductions, as well as allegations of poor working conditions and staff intimidation.
On Monday, public offices under the FCTA were largely deserted as the strike took full effect, paralysing administrative activities in the nation’s capital. Critics argue that Wike’s overseas trip, coming amid such tension, sent the wrong signal and underscored what they perceive as a disconnect between leadership and the plight of workers.
Despite the unrest, Wike announced on Thursday that he had attended his son’s graduation in London. He also thanked political allies who travelled with him, including Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; and PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih.
Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, later confirmed that Joaquin Wike completed an MSc in Management and Technology Change at King’s College London, clarifying the exact course of study amid speculation online. Those present at the ceremony included members of Wike’s immediate family and the aforementioned political figures.
The minister’s trip coincided with escalating legal tensions between the FCTA and labour unions. SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Wike and the FCTA approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, seeking orders to restrain the Joint Union Action Committee from picketing and shutting down government offices.
In a ruling delivered on January 21, 2026, Justice E.D. Subilim granted leave for substituted service on the union leaders and adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026, for further hearing. Union leaders have since vowed to sustain the strike until their demands are fully addressed.
As public debate continues, the episode has reopened broader conversations about leadership, accountability and the use of public resources in Nigeria. For many critics, the issue goes beyond one family’s celebration to questions of equity, consistency and trust in public office. Whether Wike will directly address the accusations of double standards remains to be seen, but the controversy has once again placed his past decisions and present actions under intense public examination.
