ABAKALIKI, Nigeria
A Nigerian student from Ebonyi State and four other members of Team Nigeria have reportedly missed the 2026 International Economics Olympiad (IEO) in China after their visa applications were denied, according to a statement by the parent of one of the students.
The student, Eze Bryan, recently emerged as the winner of the National Economics Olympiad, earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the prestigious International Economics Olympiad alongside four other students. The IEO is an annual global competition for outstanding secondary school students in economics, finance, and business.
In a social media post by Eze Ogbonnaya Eze, Bryan’s parent alleged that despite flight tickets, competition registration, and accommodation having been fully paid and confirmed, the Chinese Embassy denied visas to all five Nigerian participants, preventing them from traveling to the competition.
Describing the development as “a national embarrassment,” the parent called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ebonyi State Government to explain what efforts were made to support the students and ensure they could represent the country on the international stage.
The parent also revealed that this was the second major international opportunity the student had reportedly missed this year. According to the statement, Eze Bryan qualified in April 2026 to represent Ebonyi State and Nigeria at a mathematics competition in Germany but was unable to attend due to logistical challenges.
The incident has sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing disappointment and calling for stronger institutional support for students selected to represent the country in international academic competitions.
As of the time of publication, neither the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, nor the organizers of Team Nigeria had issued an official statement explaining the reported visa denial.