The Nigerian federal government has intervened following a crisis affecting international students in the UK.
Nigerian students at Teesside University faced expulsion from their courses and were reported to the Home Office due to financial difficulties caused by a currency crisis, as revealed by the BBC.
A delegation led by a Nigerian ambassador will engage with university management to address allegations of unjust deportation orders, according to a spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
The university, located in Middlesbrough, affirmed its commitment to assisting affected students and expressed willingness to engage in the upcoming meeting.
The involvement follows incidents where master’s degree students faced enrollment barriers and were reported to the Home Office by the university.
Their challenges stemmed from difficulties in meeting tuition payment deadlines due to the drastic depreciation of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, amid economic turmoil, causing financial strains and significant budget adjustments.
In an earlier statement to the BBC this month, a university representative stated that failure to fulfill payment obligations constituted a violation of visa sponsorship terms, leading to the university’s obligation to notify the Home Office, which ultimately holds sponsorship decision authority.
Calls for Justice and Fairness
Amidst the currency crisis, some students shared harrowing accounts of falling into debt and facing expulsion, with reports indicating that the majority of affected individuals are Nigerian students grappling with the soaring cost of living.
This predicament extends beyond Teesside University, with students at institutions like Sussex also feeling the strain.
Following a meeting between impacted students and key officials including Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Ambassador Christian Okeke, and Yemi Soile, president of the Nigerian Students Union UK, the Nigerian government has stepped in.
During the virtual session, students were urged to maintain composure while emphasizing the importance of the university treating them with “justice and fairness”.
Jude Salubri, a student who received a deportation notice from the UK, expressed gratitude for the intervention but remained skeptical about its effectiveness.
“While I appreciate the effort, I’m uncertain if it will yield results,” he remarked. “Our situation remains uncertain as we await further developments.”
Meanwhile, a university spokesperson assured that individualized assistance is being provided to students impacted by Nigeria’s economic challenges.
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