Nigerian students at Teesside University have taken to protesting on campus after the institution expelled them and ordered their departure from the United Kingdom.
The BBC reported that the university’s action stems from these students’ inability to pay tuition fees on time, a situation attributed to the severe devaluation of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, which has drastically affected their financial stability. On Tuesday morning, the students carried placards to voice their frustrations, accusing the university of taking a “heartless” approach to those who fell into arrears.
The root of the problem lies in Nigeria’s forex crisis, which has seen the naira’s value plummet. This devaluation wiped out the savings of many Nigerian students, making it difficult for them to meet their financial obligations.
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Teesside University responded by reporting these students to the Home Office, leading to their suspension from studies and the revocation of their visa sponsorships. The university defended its actions, stating that non-payment of fees constituted a breach of visa sponsorship requirements, which left them no choice but to alert immigration authorities.
According to the report, many affected students expressed feelings of despair and hopelessness, with some even considering suicide. Adenike Ibrahim, one of the students close to completing her studies, shared her distressing experience. After missing a single payment, she was expelled from her course and reported to the Home Office despite having paid 90% of her tuition fees. Despite settling her arrears, she was not re-enrolled and was instructed to leave the UK along 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,” said Ibrahim. “I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.” She described the experience as “horrendous,” noting that the uncertainty surrounding her qualification and the impact on her son was particularly heartbreaking. “It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him,” she added.
Other students echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the severe emotional and psychological toll the situation has taken on them. One master’s degree student, who chose to remain anonymous, said he had seriously considered suicide and was not eating or drinking after receiving a letter from the Home Office stating that his permission to enter the UK had been canceled due to his cessation of studies.
The Role of Nigeria’s Forex Crisis
The Nigerian forex crisis has had a devastating impact on the students’ ability to finance their education. Before beginning their studies, students were required to provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses. However, the unexpected and severe devaluation of the naira significantly depleted these funds. This economic instability in Nigeria is part of a broader financial crisis affecting many Nigerians both at home and abroad. The crisis has led to skyrocketing inflation and a sharp increase in the cost of living, further compounding financial difficulties.
At home, Nigerians are facing increased prices for basic goods and services, making it harder for families to support students studying abroad. The cost of imported goods has surged, and businesses are struggling to maintain operations due to the higher costs of imported raw materials.
The economic challenges have led to widespread financial strain, impacting everything from household budgets to the ability of businesses to sustain operations and employment. As of Wednesday, the naira traded at N1,851.761 against the British pound.
Impact of UK Immigration Law
Compounding the students’ difficulties is the newly introduced UK immigration law, which has tightened regulations around visa sponsorship. This law mandates that educational institutions must report any breaches of visa conditions, including non-payment of tuition fees. Teesside University stated it had “no choice” but to alert the Home Office when students fell into arrears, as failure to pay is considered a breach of visa sponsorship requirements.
A university spokesperson said, “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.”
In response to the growing crisis, a group of 60 students petitioned the university for support. Despite some managing to pay off their outstanding fees, the university indicated it could no longer intervene in the Home Office process once students were reported.
The university claimed to have made “every effort” to support the students, including offering individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke payment plans. However, many students reported receiving little to no support from the university, leading to their academic and financial distress.
“I attended all of my classes and seminars, I’m a hell of an active student,” she said. “It is disheartening, I am now on antidepressants and being here alone, I have nobody to talk to. For over two months, I’ve barely eaten or slept, and I don’t understand why this is being meted out to us; we didn’t do anything wrong,” Esther Obigwe said about her experience trying to seek help from the university. She expressed her embarrassment and reluctance to inform her family about her predicament.