UK varsity eases payment for Nigerian students

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Thursday, announced that Teesside University in the United Kingdom has implemented a more compassionate payment method.

Dabiri-Erewa stated this at a press conference ahead of the National Diaspora Day Celebrations 2024 on July 25, in Abuja.

She noted that while students were still required to pay their fees, the new arrangements aimed to make the process more manageable.

For those students who were near completion of their payments and were asked to leave, Dabiri-Erewa stated that an agreement has been reached allowing them to finish their payments and receive their certificates once all fees are settled.

“The Teesside University has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient.

“For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they completed their payment,” she explained.

The NiDCOM Boss also mentioned that Teesside University was not the only institution affected; many other universities have Nigerian students facing similar issues.

“We are working closely with the student organisations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges,” she added.

The NiDCOM boss highlighted economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate living standards as the primary drivers behind the increasing migration of Nigerians abroad.

She noted that the theme for this year’s National Diaspora Day, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” reflected growing concerns over the demographic most affected by this migration—Nigeria’s youth.

“Factors such as economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate standard of living are ranked high among reasons for the exodus of Nigerians abroad.

“The consequence of this phenomenon is the decline of strong human resources because most of the Nigerians relocating are the youths,” Dabiri-Erewa noted. “This, in turn, makes a downward turn on labour and productivity in the country.”

Despite these challenges, Dabiri-Erewa called for a change in perspective, urging Nigerians to see the positive side of the situation.

“We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud.

Also, those who, while abroad, are contributing positively to national development,” NiDCOM Boss noted.

The financial crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by a shift from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment plan by the university, left many students struggling to cover their expenses.

A local food charity reported that 75 per cent of its clients are now Nigerian students, highlighting the extent of their financial hardship.

On May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University were expelled from their courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom due to difficulties in paying their tuition fees on time.

The students cited the devaluation of the naira as a significant barrier to meeting their financial obligations, which has led to a breach of their visa sponsorship requirements.

Several students found themselves locked out of their university accounts, reported to the Home Office, and mandated to leave the UK. The university maintained that strict external regulations necessitate these actions.

The affected students, numbering 60, expressed deep distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being unsupportive and “heartless.”

They banded together to urge the university for assistance after witnessing their peers face severe consequences for late payments.

On May 29, 2024, the Federal Government stepped in to address the deportation orders issued against some Nigerian students at Teesside University.

A delegation led by a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, Amb. Christian Okeke, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, met with the University’s management to seek a resolution.