Teesside University in the United Kingdom has launched a new initiative to assist Nigerian students facing severe financial challenges by funding their flights back home, as reported by the BBC on Tuesday.
This decision follows the removal of several students from their courses and the issuance of orders for them to leave the UK due to their inability to pay tuition fees.
The financial difficulties in Nigeria, exacerbated by the university’s change from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment plan, have left many students struggling to meet their financial commitments.
A local food charity highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that 75 percent of its clients are now Nigerian students.
On May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University were expelled from their courses and instructed to leave the UK due to challenges in paying their tuition fees on time.
The students pointed to the devaluation of the naira as a major hurdle in meeting their financial obligations, resulting in a breach of their visa sponsorship requirements.
Several students found themselves locked out of their university accounts, reported to the Home Office, and required to leave the UK.
The university stated that these actions were necessary due to strict external regulations.
The affected students, numbering 60, expressed deep distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being unsupportive and “heartless.”
They collectively urged the university for assistance after witnessing their peers face severe consequences for late payments.
On May 29, 2024, the Federal Government intervened to address the deportation orders issued against some Nigerian students at Teesside University.
A delegation led by Ambassador Christian Okeke from the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, met with the University’s management to seek a resolution.
Following protests and the intervention of the Nigerian government, the university has re-enrolled some affected students and established a relief fund.
“We are working with a small group who need to return to their home country and are opening an international relief fund to offer additional financial support for these unexpected travel costs,” a university spokesperson told the BBC.
The university is also providing some students the option to complete their studies remotely from Nigeria or to return to the UK at a later date.
The BBC reports that some students have lodged legal appeals.
