The Federal Government has announced that Teesside University in the United Kingdom has introduced a more flexible payment plan for Nigerian students enrolled at the institution.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday ahead of the National Diaspora Day Celebrations 2024 in Abuja.
The financial challenges faced by Nigerian students, exacerbated by a transition from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment schedule by the university, had left many struggling to meet their financial obligations.
On May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University faced deportation due to difficulties in paying their tuition fees promptly, attributed largely to the devaluation of the naira and its impact on their ability to fulfill visa sponsorship requirements.
Approximately 60 affected students, locked out of university systems and reported to the Home Office, voiced frustration at what they perceived as insufficient support and harsh treatment from the university.
In response, the Federal Government 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, engaged with university management to seek a resolution.
Dabiri-Erewa provided updates on the intervention outcomes, noting that while students must still meet their fee obligations, Teesside University has implemented a more compassionate payment approach to ease the process.
“For those nearing completion of their payments and facing expulsion, an agreement has been reached allowing them to finalize their fees and receive their certificates upon full payment,” she explained.
