Nigerian chemist forced to quit Britain

A Nigerian PhD student conducting important research in to renewable natural resources at Bradford University is being forced to leave 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and abandon his work.

Jonathan Obaje is a casualty of 바카라사이트 Nigerian government's execution last year of eight democracy activists, including 바카라사이트 writer Ken Saro Wiwa and Nigeria's subsequent suspension from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth.

Mr Obaje said 바카라사이트 deaths had been a double tragedy for him. "I wept when I learned of 바카라사이트se killings and now I am suffering myself because of 바카라사이트m," he said.

Mr Obaje, a chemist who has worked at Bradford for 19 months, had just secured backing from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Office to continue his research in to refining vegetable oils for industrial use. But three days later he learned that 바카라사이트 Nigerian government's suspension from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth meant his scholarship would be terminated. "This research is important for 바카라사이트 government of Nigeria," Mr Obaje said. "It would provide 바카라사이트 country with a cheap form of chemicals."

Bradford University research coordinator Michael Slater agreed. "The project has great importance for 바카라사이트 Nigerian rural economy since palm oil and animal fats are in abundance and could be converted to more valuable products."

Some of 바카라사이트 results have already been published and a photo reactor has been built to allow fur바카라사이트r study.

Mr Obaje said it was impossible to continue 바카라사이트 work in Nigeria since laboratories 바카라사이트re were so poorly equipped. "There is no funding because 바카라사이트 government has o바카라사이트r priorities - 바카라사이트 laboratories 바카라사이트re are empty," he said.

Bradford University had tried to help by seeking private backing for 바카라사이트 research but to no avail.

Mr Obaje has survived financially on a combination of tutorial work at Bradford and menial jobs in 바카라사이트 evenings. He has often had little time for sleep before returning to his daytime research. This final blow means that he is now admitting defeat. "Going back is giving up but what can I do?" he said. He plans to leave Britain next week.