Covid-19: Female Nigerian student donates cash, food to colleagues in Cyprus

A 400 level Aeronautic Engineering student of the University of Kyrenia, Cyprus, Miss Stephanie Mafeng Pam, has donated cash and assorted food items to Nigerian students in North Cyprus.

Most Nigerian students had it tough during the pandemic, not able to receive welfare support funds from home due to lockdown in the country, said Stephanie, while making the donation at the Directorate Office of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Turkish Zone at the Kyrenia University, North Cyprus, Turkey.

Stephanie, the current President of the African Students Association, Kyrenia University said she was particularly moved to donate as Nigerian ATM cards in Cyprus at some points failed to work.

In her words, “There are some Students who worked daily to earn money for survival but with the lockdown, they were stranded.

“In the midst of the situation, the North Cyprus Government openly stated that they wouldn’t be providing support for foreign students even while classes continued online.”

She appealed to Plateau State Government, corporate organizations and spirited individuals in the state to come to the aid of the students who are in “pitiable conditions”.

“What we donated might fairly help but Plateau students in particular are still in dare need of assistance as most of them can barely afford food and other basic necessities of life as a result of lockdown and other restrictions placed to curb the spread of the virus,” she said.

Miss Pam appreciated her fellow African students and parents, Dr. Steven Pam and Pharmacist Kaneng Pam who have “remained supportive of her students’ union activities.”