Nigerian students in universities in the United Kingdom have been ordered to leave due to Nigeria’s current economic crisis affecting their ability to pay their tuition.
The BBC reported that Teeside University students were reported to the Home Office after they were blocked from their studies.
According to a spokesman from the university, they had no choice but to alert the Home Office since failure to pay tuition fees was a breach of visa sponsorship requirements.
The naira has depreciated by over 100% against the dollar in just a year.
One of the students, Adenike Ibrahim, who was kicked off her program, was so close to handing in her dissertation. She managed to pay her arrears but was not re-enrolled by the school and has been told to return to Nigeria with her young son.
“I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees, and I went to all of my classes,” she said.
“I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.”
She said the experience was “horrendous,” and she did not know what was happening with her qualification.
“It has been heartbreaking for my son, especially; he has been in so much distress since I told him,” Ms. Ibrahim added.
The Home Office said a decision to offer or withdraw visa sponsorship rested with the sponsoring institution.
Source: Ghana/MaxTV/MaxFM/max.com.gh/Michael Mensah Martey
