Liberia’s recently launched US$25 million NEKOTEH Scholarship program, aimed at providing educational opportunities for students in areas of STEM and Artificial Intelligence, has quickly descended into controversy due to issues of transparency concerns and conflicting information about its terms.
While the government initially promoted the initiative as a “non-collateral loan scheme and assured Liberians of its free nature, applicants have been asked to pay huge fees, including a US$236 readiness fee, a US$300 English Test fee, and to provide proof of a US$40,000 bank balance, raising doubts about the program’s true nature.
After thorough research, exiled Liberian Activist Martin K. N. Kollie, has exposed and accused the program of being a scam and an online fraud, citing concerns about NEKOTEH’s financial stability and the lack of a verifiable loan agreement. Kollie has also questioned the legitimacy of the program’s promoters, claiming that funds held by NEKOTEH are insufficient to support the scholarship as advertised.
This comes after similar promises made during the Weah administration were not fulfilled by Nekotech, leaving many Liberians disillusioned and some victimized by this same Nekotech.
In a surprising twist, the Ministry of Education recently removed the Nekotech application link from its website, further fueling public suspicion. Sources within the ministry suggest they were misled into thinking the “scholarship” was fully funded, only to discover it involves self-paid loans and additional fees which are exorbitant.
As of now, the Ministry of Education has not provided any official clarification, leaving the public and potential applicants including those who have already deposited money into Nekotech’s accounts in a state of confusion.
The NEKOTEH program, which was intended to provide significant educational opportunities for Liberian students, now faces growing scrutiny over its credibility and transparency as applicants so far have described the program as a scam after attending an online zoom session with a lady claiming to be Nekotech Executive Chairperson in Ghana.
Nekotech current bank account details show that it rarely has money in its USD accounts: Ecobank Ghana Ltd: Acct # 3441001386217 and Rokel Commercial Bank #16-1776481 and that claim to provide US$25 Million Loan Scheme remains a suspicion.
Verity News obtained a documentary evidence indicating that in 2021, NEKOTEH Scammed over 15 Liberians, following the launch of a similar scheme by then-Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor.
Each of these individuals paid over US$ 1,500 to a NEKOTEH Agent who was later “dismissed” from the program and became inaccessible, only after NEKOTEH had received their requested amounts.
Already, Verity News has gathered that more than seven Liberians have already paid US$1,300 into the NEKOTEH account as a result of said scholarship, which is now perceived as a scam by many Africans including Liberians.
By Willie N. Tokpa/ Contributor
