Nigerian students have been expelled from university programs and instructed to depart from the United Kingdom due to a currency crisis that has hindered their ability to promptly settle tuition costs.
Teesside University students had obstacles in their academic pursuits and were reported to the Home Office due to the significant depreciation of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, which resulted in the complete loss of their money.
A few people informed the BBC that they experienced thoughts of suicide while alleging that the university displayed a “callous” attitude towards individuals who accumulated debt as a result.
A representative from the institution stated that not paying the required fees violated the conditions of visa sponsorship, and as a result, they were compelled to inform the Home Office. The Home Office stated that the responsibility for visa sponsorship choices lies with the institution.
Nigeria is presently undergoing its most severe economic downturn in a generation, resulting in a notable repercussion for Nigerian students studying at some universities in the United Kingdom.
The average inflation rate is approximately 30%, and the problem worsened when the president of the country tried to substitute the old currency with a new one. A group of students levied allegations against the university, claiming it to be devoid of compassion.
Prior to commencing their studies at Teesside, students who were impacted were informed that they must provide evidence of possessing sufficient means to cover both tuition fees and living costs. Nevertheless, the funds were substantially diminished due to the crisis in their place of origin.
This worsened the financial difficulties that students were already facing due to the university’s decision to change the tuition fee payment schedule from seven instalments to three.
A cohort of students, 60 of whom coincidentally revealed their names to the BBC, initiated a campaign for the university to provide assistance. This came after many individuals who failed to meet their financial obligations were denied access to university accounts and forcibly pulled from their studies. Additionally, certain individuals claim to have been approached by debt collection firms that were hired by the institution.
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