MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Former Assistant Minister for Information Services Matthew Nyanplu broke his silence on November 26, 2024, during a live broadcast of OK Conversation hosted by Julius Jeh on OK FM. Addressing his suspension and subsequent resignation over the controversial $25 million Nekotech scholarship program, Nyanplu offered a scathing critique of the scheme’s administrative failures and inconsistencies.
The controversy erupted on November 5, 2024, when Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti announced at a press conference that the Liberian Government had secured a $25 million loan to fund STEM master’s degree scholarships in the United States. According to Nyanplu, the announcement was sensational yet vague, without details about the funding source or operational framework. Despite its high-profile nature, cracks appeared when applicants were required to pay $236 to proceed, raising suspicions about the program’s authenticity.
Nyanplu explained that discrepancies occurred when his administrative assistant faced unexplained payment demands. Further investigations revealed inconsistencies between the Foreign Minister’s claims and Nekotech’s offerings. A colleague who attended a Nekotech webinar found no mention of the $25 million loan or Liberian government involvement. Instead, Nekotech pitched a convoluted concept involving scholarship vouchers and readiness schools, requiring additional participant fees.
Alarmed, Nyanplu conducted independent research, uncovering further misrepresentations. U.S. government policies did not align with Nekotech’s work-study claims, and a Ghanaian pastor allegedly recommended the initiative to the Foreign Minister, further muddying its credibility. Despite presenting these findings to Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, Nyanplu said his concerns were dismissed, with the Minister unwilling to challenge the Foreign Minister publicly.
The situation worsened when the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia denied involvement with Nekotech or the scholarship program. This revelation directly contradicted the Foreign Minister’s assertion that the Embassy would facilitate visa applications for scholarship recipients.
During a November 14 press briefing, the Government attempted damage control, stating that Nekotech officials would clarify the program during a town hall meeting. However, Nyanplu argued that “work-study” was misleading, as no private organization could guarantee such opportunities for international students outside U.S. government oversight.
Nyanplu criticized Foreign Minister Nyanti for rushing the announcement without adequate verification or consultation, leading to public deception. He also highlighted systemic governance flaws that allowed an unvetted entity like Nekotech to gain credibility. The scandal has dashed the hopes of aspiring students and undermined public trust in government-backed initiatives.
While Assistant Minister for Public Affairs Saywhar Nana Gbaa clarified that only new applications had been paused for evaluation, the program’s credibility remains severely damaged. Nyanplu concluded his interview by urging reforms in vetting processes for government projects, warning that such negligence could further erode public confidence in Liberia’s institutions.
