Chinese embassy frustrating young Nigerian Photographer honoured by UNDP
By Friday Nwosu
The hope of participating in the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP) may gradually be slipping away for a Nigerian, Ekpa, Idorenyin Okon, a winner of UNDP Global Goal Contest.
Ekpa, Idorenyin Okon, an indigene of Cross Rivers State, Calabar, is one of the 17 people selected across the globe by the International body to participate in UNDP Global Goal Contest in Partnership with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China.
Okon said the despite receiving a letter of invitation from the UNDP offices in China and New York to attend the international event schedule to commence from the 8th-14th of January, 2017, his visa application to the Chinese embassy has constantly met a brick wall.
He noted that getting the visa from the embassy has been really challenging as the embassy no longer issue tourism visas to Nigerians seeking to obtain tourism visa to country.
He said: “The UNDP in China and New York has sent me invitation letters alongside a letter from the Chengdu Panda Base to facilitate my visa application. Flight itinerary has also been sent to me and travel plans concluded.
“However, over the weeks it has been very challenging getting the visa as tourism visas to China are no more offered to Nigerians. I was asked to apply for an exchange visa instead however this option requires an Invitation Letter of Duly Authorised Unit from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before an interview could be considered.
“The UNDP in China and Chengdu Panda base has worked hard to get this document to no avail. The UNDP has recently expressed their disappointment and unavailability to obtain the said document in a letter written to me on the 30th of December, 2016 which leaves me to source for alternative intervention as this is very important to me and my works in the future” he said.
Okon who is expected to depart Nigeria on the 6th of January for the UNDP event in China may not be to make it as the embassy as continued to be a stumbling block to his participation
