By Uzair Adam Imam
Adamu Sani Bello, a retired journalist and former civil servant from Bauchi State, is grappling with the distressing predicament of his son’s stranded status in Iran.
Despite graduating two years ago with a 75% scholarship, Bello’s son remains unable to return to Nigeria because of an unpaid university debt totaling $8,000.
Bello’s efforts to settle the remaining 25% of the debt have been thwarted by Nigeria’s economic woes, which have been exacerbated by rampant inflation.
Since his retirement, Bello has struggled to meet familial responsibilities amid challenging financial circumstances.
Desperate plea
In a heartfelt three-minute video seen by The Daily Reality, Bello implores philanthropic individuals and nongovernmental organizations to come to his son’s rescue.
He reveals that his son, a trailblazer in dental surgery and the first Black student at his Iranian university, is unable to afford the $1,000 flight back to Nigeria.
The situation is dire as the expiration of his son’s residency visa looms.
Bello fears that his son may overstay his visa, compounding his already dire situation.
Adding to the complexity, Iranian regulations prohibit students from seeking employment until they complete their studies.
No way out
With his passport also having expired in August, the young graduate finds himself trapped in a nightmarish limbo, devoid of job prospects and lacking the means to return home.
Bello’s desperate plea shows the urgent need for intervention to prevent his son from facing the harrowing prospect of incarceration in a foreign country.