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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
About 60 Nigerian students have been thrown out of their university programmes and ordered to leave the United Kingdom after they struggled to pay tuition fees on time, BBC reports.
The Nigerians, who are students of Teesside University, said the devaluation of naira made it difficult for them to pay their tuition fees, leading to a breach of visa sponsorship requirements.
As a result, they have been blocked from their studies, reported to the Home Office, and ordered to leave the United Kingdom.
Teesside university claimed it had no choice but to take this action, citing strict external regulations.
The affected students have expressed their distress and disappointment, saying that the university is being “heartless” and not providing adequate support.
The 60 students, who decided to share their names with the BBC, banded together to urge the university to offer support after several of their peers faced severe consequences for defaulting on payments.
According to the students, they were abruptly locked out of their university accounts and forcibly withdrawn from their courses.
Adenike Ibrahim, a student who was close to graduating, had her visa revoked and was told to leave the country, despite paying 90% of her tuition fees.
“I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes.
“I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.
“It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him,” Ibrahim told BBC.
Another affected student, Esther Obigwe, has been struggling with depression due to the situation.
She claimed she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial struggles, but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and received notice to leave the country.
“I attended all of my classes and seminars, I’m a hell of an active student.
“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 to us, we didn’t do anything wrong,” Obigwe said.
Jude Salubi, a student pursuing a degree in social work, was suddenly informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would be required to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a critical placement.
Salubi said he commuted from Teesside to Liverpool every weekend, working 18 hours to try to settle his outstanding fees.
“As of now I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000.
“I am willing to come to an agreement as to how I will make this payment, but I need guarantees that I will be re-enrolled into school and my visa restored,” he said.
A spokesperson for the university 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.”