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Transcript/ScriptNIGERIA UKRAINE STUDENTS ONLINE
HEADLINE: Students Who Fled Ukraine Share Stories of Hope, Survival During Online Classes.
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 03/17/2022 at 8pm
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:11
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITORS NOTE:))
((INTRO)) [[Hundreds of Nigerian students who safely fled Ukraine were close to graduating when Russia invaded the country. But despite being under fire, some Ukrainian teachers have continued their classes online, where they are exchanging stories of hope and survival. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.]]
((Video/VOA - Dominic Oru and Timothy - various, Oru in Class - various))
((NARRATOR))
Final year medical student from Ukraine, Dominic Oru was two months short of completing his degree when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
Like hundreds of others from his city, he fled to Romania and returned to Nigeria in early March. Since then, Oru and his colleagues have resumed their classes online, but only after a reunion following their sudden departure.
((Dominic Oru, Final Year Student))((In English, 14 secs)
"Our major conversation was about how we didn't get to have a proper goodbye to each other because we were thinking we still had time. There was going to be the graduation ceremony where we'll have pictures and everything."
((Video/VOA - More shots of Dominic Oru))
((NARRATOR))
Still, Oru says he is keeping his hopes high, despite worrying about his teacher in Ukraine who is doubling as a frontline responder.
((Olu Dominic, Final Year Student))((In English, 15 secs))
"He looks really stressed, he looked like he had had very little amount of sleep. I could see the eye bags around his eyes. [[Cutaways]] My class which I had on Monday, about 30 to the end of the class, he got a call and excused himself."
((Video/VOA - Shots of students at Abuja airport - various, shots of Fatima Baffah in class))
((NARRATOR))
Nigerian authorities said around 8,000 nationals were in Ukraine when the invasion began. About 5,000 of them were students.
Freshman medical student Fatima Baffah has started virtual learning as well, catching up on her studies and with her friends. But, for her, it’s not the same.
((Fatima Baffah , Freshman Year Medical Student))((In English, 9 secs))
"I really wish I can be in my physical classes, seeing my friends, my teachers."
((Video/VOA - Shots of Baffa and her mom))
((NARRATOR))
Fatima's parents say she must stay out of Ukraine.
((Sallah Baffah, Fatima's Mother))((In English, 13 secs secs))
"We can't take her back to that place. We need a place she can study peacefully because my daughter she's still young, she's just sixteen years (old)"
((Video/VOA - Dominic Oru, Oru and Timothy)) ((NARRATOR))
Oru and his colleagues were planning a big dinner party to celebrate their graduation. But now he fears he may never see some of his classmates again.
Timothy Obiezu for VOA News Abuja, Nigeria
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Abuja, Nigeria
Embargo DateMarch 17, 2022 18:59 EDT
BylineTimothy Obiezu for VOA News Abuja, Nigeria
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
