Teesside University has announced a new initiative to assist Nigerian students facing severe financial difficulties by funding their flights home. This decision comes in response to the plight of students who were removed from their courses and ordered to leave the UK due to their inability to pay tuition fees.

The financial crisis in Nigeria, coupled with the university’s shift from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment plan, left many students struggling to cover their educational expenses. A local food charity revealed that 75% of its clients are now Nigerian students, underscoring the severity of their financial hardship.

On May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University were expelled from their courses and ordered to leave the UK for failing to pay their tuition fees on time. The students attributed their financial struggles to the devaluation of the naira, which has significantly impacted their ability to meet financial obligations, leading to a breach of their visa sponsorship requirements.

As a result, several students were locked out of their university accounts, reported to the Home Office, and mandated to leave the UK. The university cited strict external regulations as the reason for these actions.

The affected students, numbering 60, expressed deep distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being unsupportive and “heartless.” They banded together to urge the university for assistance after witnessing their peers face severe consequences for late payments.

In response to the growing crisis, the Federal Government of Nigeria intervened on May 29, 2024. A delegation led by Ambassador Christian Okeke from the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, met with the university’s management to seek a resolution.

Following protests and the Nigerian government’s intervention, Teesside University has re-enrolled some of the affected students and established a relief fund. “We are working with a small group who need to return to their home country and are opening an international relief fund to offer additional financial support for these unexpected travel costs,” a university spokesperson told the BBC.

Additionally, the university is offering some students the option to complete their studies remotely from Nigeria or return to the UK at a later date.