By Marietta Munachimso
In line with her commitment towards fostering economic prosperity in the South-East region, Senator Uche Ekwunife CON on Tuesday intensified efforts to alleviate the suffering of prospective diaspora students and businessmen seeking visas to study and trade in the United Kingdom.
The Senator who stated this in a crucial meeting with the Country Director, British Deputy High Commission, Mr Mark Smithson, decried reported cases of visa denial to some applicants with genuine intentions to travel to UK, thereby hindering their ambition of attaining their diaspora business plans and academic pursuits without recourse to the applicants genuine career objectives.
She however enjoined the UK diplomat Mr Mark Smithson to ensure proper profiling of visa applicants and cut down the exorbitant cost of accessing student visa, business visa, family visa, among others, to encourage patronage from the people of South-East region.
Senator Ekwunife subsequently presented a proposal of the South-East Governors Forum to partner with the commission in key sectors ranging from security, industrialization, power generation, human capital development, construction of passenger and cargo rail, revitalization of nonfunctional businesses, education, etc.
Responding, Mr Smithson expressed deep satisfaction with the Senator’s presentation which contained detailed roadmap and specific timeline proposal for each project plan. He therefore gave assurances of the commission’s diplomatic capacity to undertake crucial proposals and bilateral agreements that meet the eligibility criteria for public private partnership.
He expressed gratitude to the SEGOF delegation ably led by the DG, Senator Uche Ekwunife, acknowledged the senator’s genuine concerns about their visa policy, while adding that they look forward to followup interactions and possible collaboration on selected projects.
