Nigerian students have been forced to leave the UK after a currency crisis left them unable to pay tuition fees on time.
Teesside University reported these students to the Home Office because their missed payments violated visa requirements. This has caused significant distress among the students, with some feeling suicidal.
The Nigerian economy is facing severe inflation and currency depreciation, which drastically reduced the value of students’ savings.
Many students had already paid a large portion of their fees but were still expelled from their courses and told to leave the country.
Affected students are frustrated, accusing the university of being “heartless.” Some are still in the UK, trying to resolve their situation.
The university says it had no choice but to follow visa regulations.
One student, Adenike Ibrahim, was close to graduating when she was removed from her course despite paying 90% of her fees. She, along with her young son, now faces deportation.
The Home Office stated that the university is responsible for visa sponsorship decisions and that those affected must either regularize their stay or leave the UK.
This summary is based on a report by the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c888926qx58o