By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
University orders Nigerian students to leave UK.
Teesside University has expelled a group of Nigerian students and ordered them to leave the UK after they failed to pay tuition fees on time, reports the BBC. The students, who have been struggling due to the devaluation of the naira, have consequently breached visa sponsorship requirements.
The university has blocked some students from their studies, reported them to the Home Office, and instructed them to leave the country. Teesside University claims it was compelled to take this action due to strict external regulations.
Affected students have voiced their distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being “heartless” and lacking adequate support. A group of 60 students, who shared their names with the BBC, have urged the university to offer assistance after several peers faced severe consequences for missing payments.
These students were suddenly locked out of their university accounts and withdrawn from their courses. Adenike Ibrahim, a student close to graduating, had her visa revoked and was told to leave despite having paid 90% of her tuition fees. “I did default on payments, but I’d already paid 90% and attended all my classes,” she told the BBC. “I called them to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.”
Esther Obigwe, another affected student, has been battling depression due to the situation. She claims she tried multiple times to discuss her financial struggles with the university but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and ordered to leave the country. “I attended all my classes and seminars, and now I’m on antidepressants,” she said.
Jude Salubi, pursuing a degree in social work, was informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would need to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a critical placement. Salubi commuted from Teesside to Liverpool every weekend, working 18 hours to try to settle his outstanding fees. “I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000. I am willing to come to an agreement but need guarantees of re-enrollment and visa restoration,” he said.
A university spokesman stated, “Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance. These strict external regulations ensure the university supports a robust immigration system and are beyond the university’s control.”
The spokesman acknowledged the financial struggles faced by some students and noted that the university has offered customized payment plans to those who requested them. “Many of our international students have taken up this option; however, some students have still defaulted on these revised plans,” he said.
The Home Office clarified that the decision to grant or withdraw visa sponsorship lies with the sponsoring institution. In cases where a visa is shortened or canceled, individuals are advised to either regularize their stay or arrange to leave the UK.
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University orders Nigerian students to leave UK