A group of Nigerian students has been expelled from their university courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom after failing to pay tuition fees on time according to BBC.
The students from Teesside University cited the devaluation of the naira as a major factor hindering their ability to pay tuition fees, leading to breaches in visa sponsorship requirements. This situation resulted in some students being unable to continue their studies, being reported to the Home Office, and receiving orders to leave the UK.
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The university stated that it was compelled to take these actions due to stringent external regulations. The affected students have voiced their distress and disappointment.
The group, consisting of 60 students who shared their experiences with the BBC, appealed to the university for support after witnessing severe repercussions faced by their peers due to payment defaults.
These students were abruptly locked out of their university accounts and withdrawn from their courses without prior notice.
On Tuesday, May 21, the students staged a peaceful protest on campus to express their dissatisfaction. Adenike Ibrahim, a student close to graduation, had her visa revoked and was ordered to leave the UK, even though she had paid 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,” she told BBC.
“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 added.
Another student, Esther Obigwe, has been dealing with depression due to the situation. She claims she made multiple attempts to discuss her financial difficulties with the university, but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and received a notice to leave the country.
Jude Salubi, a social work student, was unexpectedly informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would need to leave the country, even though he was in the midst of a crucial placement. A university spokesman 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.”
