Nigerian students at Teesside University in the UK are devastated after being removed from their courses and ordered to leave the country due to falling behind on their fees. This situation arose after a crash in the value of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, wiped out their savings.
The university withdrew the students who were struggling with their payments and reported them to the Home Office. Some of these students have also been contacted by debt collection agencies.
The affected students staged a protest outside the campus, accusing the university of being “heartless” in its response to their financial difficulties.
The university stated it had “no choice” but to act, citing that failure to pay tuition fees constituted a breach of visa sponsorship rules. It emphasized that extensive efforts were made to assist the affected students, including offering customized payment plans.
Reports indicate that a group of 60 students sought the university’s assistance after they defaulted on their fees due to their savings being wiped out.
One student, Adenike Ibrahim, shared her distressing experience, revealing that she was close to submitting her dissertation when she was removed from her course for being unable to make a payment.
Despite now having paid her fees in full, Adenike Ibrahim will still have to leave the UK with her young son and is not allowed to re-enroll at the university.
“I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes,” she stated.
“I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.”
Adenike Ibrahim
Naira Crash Sparks Student Crisis
Nigeria is grappling with a severe economic crisis following a sharp drop in its currency’s value, a consequence of reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office a year ago.
These reforms aim to balance the economy, but the country is now facing nearly 30% inflation, with prices of essential goods like rice more than doubling within a year.
Many Nigerians are sharing pictures and videos online, revealing how they are coping by reducing portion sizes and consuming food typically reserved for livestock.
Unlike most UK universities that require foreign students to pay their full fees upfront, Teesside University allows students to pay in installments.
However, students must demonstrate they have sufficient funds for both fees and living expenses to qualify for this arrangement.
“Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance. These strict external regulations ensure that the university fully supports a robust immigration system and is outside of the university’s control.”
A university spokesperson
The Home Office clarified that the authority to grant or revoke visa sponsorship rests solely with the institution that sponsored the visa.
It said when a visa was shortened or canceled, individuals should “take steps to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK.”
In a correspondence, the Home Office informed the students that they lacked the right to appeal.
The situation at Teesside University highlights the need for a compassionate approach to handling financial difficulties faced by international students.
Collaborative efforts between educational institutions and immigration authorities could also ensure that students are given adequate time and resources to stabilize their finances without the immediate threat of expulsion or deportation as in the case of Adenike Ibrahim.
Such measures would reflect a commitment to both academic integrity and human compassion.
READ ALSO: GNPC CEO Visits Petroleum Commission to Strengthen Industry Synergy
