UNHCR Niger

“I want to become a doctor so that I can make my contribution to society…too many people are dying from preventable diseases amongst the refugee community and the host community here in Niger, I want to help these people.”
Ibrahima Maiga Abdourhamane, recipient of an unprecedented 7 year scholarship to study medicine in Senegal explains why he wants to become a doctor. Ibrahima – 18 years old, is one of four Malian refugee students to be awarded the highly prestigious DAFI scholarship for third level studies overseas. ‘The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative’ (DAFI) scholarships are a German funded initiative which have been awarded to academically high achieving refugee students since 1992.
Ibrahima Maiga Abdourhamane has been living in Niger since fleeing the conflict in Mali in 2012. Despite his traumatic experiences, he realizes the importance of education, and managed to achieve the highest marks in his school. He is the first in his family to study at third level, while he explains that his father who worked in agriculture and manual labour in Mali, is now based in the Mangaize refugee camp, where Ibrahima visits him during school holidays. The Malian urban refugee community living in Niamey were celebrating the news this week, sharing in the good fortune of the four successful recipients. Moussa Hamani, fellow Malian refugee and ‘President des Jeunes Leader’ who has been volunteering with UNHCR for three years shared the sentiment of joy, “We, all of us here are so happy for our brother… the young doctor! Even though he comes from a very vulnerable family, he worked so hard to achieve this.” Of 15 scholarships awarded for 2015/2016 to 15 countries, four of these were awarded to Malian refugees in Niger.
The DAFI scholarships contribute to UNHCR’s overall objective of promoting self-reliance and durable solutions for refugees, through contributing to skills development and empowerment through education. For more information on the DAFI scholarship scheme, see: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e4a2dd6.html

When war broke out in his native Anderamboukane village located in the Malian Azawad northern region, Mohamed Bilal who was already reading science of education at the University of Bamako had no option but to join his fleeing family to neighboring Niger where they lived at the Abala refugee camp.

”To me and most of my friends who were forced to abandon studies, all was bleak before us” he says, “but Alhamdoulilah (thanks be to God), in August 2013 the DAFI scholarship offer was announced by UNHCR Niger for studies in Senegal ”, recalls the 25 year old Bilal who is currently studying project management at “école des cadres” in Niamey. He says even though in the end most of them were not successful at the selection process for the German programme, UNHCR gave them a second chance and offered them local scholarships. Today two of them are comfortably pursuing higher studies. “The scholarship has rekindled hope and joy in my life and I will evidently serve as a good example for my fellow brothers and sisters who are in the camps or have precipitated their return to Mali”, he explains with mixed feelings. Voluntary repatriation has abruptly ended the education of thousands of Malian pupils and students at the behest of their parents.

To another Malian compatriot, the scholarship offer is a dream comes true because since his arrival in Niger, he had pressurized UNHCR and the authorities of Niger for a scholarship to continue his studies. “I received many unfulfilled promises until June 6, 2013 when finally the UNHCR Representative made it a reality after a long wait. And today, my patience has paid up; today I have a UNHCR scholarship; thanks be to God”. According to Mahamane Moussa 22, the scholarship has impacted his life very much. “If by the grace of God I return to my country one day, I will certainly contribute to the development of my country with the education I am receiving in my country of asylum.” concludes Mahamane who is studying project management in the same institution as Bilal.

Both Bilal and Mahamane are not only concerned but excited to sensitize their fellow compatriots in exile on the merits of continuing with their education and wish that UNHCR should facilitate this initiative for them during the holidays.

Even though opportunities for pursuing higher education are extremely limited, UNHCR managed to provide scholarships for few Malians and other refugees of other nationalities. So far, fifteen undergraduate refugees are currently studying in higher institutions on UNHCR scholarships in Niger. Few Chadian refugees benefit from the German DAFI programme. Prospects for graduate refugees are not all gleam as the socio-economic conditions are very difficult in Niger, one of the poorest countries on earth, which put limitations on opportunities for successful local integration. UNHCR is also engaged in advocacy to promote the implementation of the ECOWAS protocols on the freedom of movement in order to facilitate the issuance of identity cards / passports to refugees to improve on their chances of employment in the sub-region.