The recent graduation of Jordan Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from Queen Mary University of London with a Master of Laws (LLM) degree has sparked widespread reactions from Nigerians, many of whom criticized the former Rivers State governor for sending his son abroad for education while the state’s public education system remains underdeveloped.
In a Twitter post, Wike shared his pride, 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.”
While Wike’s post celebrated a personal milestone, it quickly attracted backlash from Nigerians who questioned why his son did not pursue his education in Rivers State or any other Nigerian institution.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and activist, criticized Wike’s legacy, tweeting:
“You were the governor for 8 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!”
Other Nigerians echoed similar sentiments, accusing Wike of using public funds to finance his son’s education abroad while neglecting Nigeria’s education sector. One netizen angrily reacted:
“It shall never be well with you looters who keep sending your children to school abroad while our educational system in Nigeria is in absolute ruins as a result of your unconscionable looting of public resources belonging to Nigerians.”
Critics also pointed to Wike’s controversial decision during his tenure to close the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), a body established under his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, to sponsor scholarships for Rivers indigenes to study abroad. A Twitter user remarked:
“He sent his kid abroad for studies, yet the same Wike shut down RSSDA, which was doing a fantastic job of sending Rivers indigenes abroad for undergraduate, MSc, and PhD programs. Imagine the level of human capital development that was lost. How can you blindly follow someone that doesn’t mean well for you?”
The incident has reignited public discourse on the state of Nigeria’s educational system and the actions of political leaders who prioritize foreign institutions for their children while public schools remain in disrepair. Wike has yet to respond to the criticisms directed at him following his son’s graduation.
