At least 60 Nigerian students were barred from attending lectures by Teesside University, reported to the Home Office, and ordered to leave the UK due to non-payment of tuition fees. The students attributed their inability to meet visa sponsorship requirements to the devaluation of the naira.
During a press conference on Thursday ahead of the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations in Abuja, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced the resolution reached between the university and the affected students, facilitated by NIDCOM.
“The university has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient,” Dabiri-Erewa stated in response to a query about the Teesside University issue. She added, “For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they complete their payment.”
Dabiri-Erewa noted that Teesside University was not the only institution where Nigerian students faced such issues. She mentioned that NIDCOM is collaborating with student organizations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges comprehensively.
Regarding the upcoming 2024 Diaspora Day celebration, Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the theme “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” emphasizing the need for profitable and well-planned migration. She acknowledged push factors like economic instability, security concerns, and living standards that drive Nigerians abroad but stressed the importance of harnessing the benefits of migration.
She cautioned against irregular migration due to its severe consequences and called for a positive shift in perspective. “We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud,” she said.
The term ‘japa’, originating from Yoruba words meaning “to break free,” has become Nigerian slang for relocating overseas in search of better opportunities.
