The recent collapse of Nigeria’s currency has had devastating effects on Nigerian students at Teesside University, forcing many to abandon their studies after their tuition money became nearly worthless overnight. The value of the Nigerian naira has plummeted, leaving Nigerian families unable to cover the tuition fees they had painstakingly saved for.

‍

This economic turmoil, the worst Nigeria has seen in a generation, has thrown the lives of these students into chaos. For many Nigerian students, studying in the UK was a dream come true, a chance at a better education and future. But as the naira crashed, that dream turned into a nightmare. Students found themselves unable to pay their fees and were told they had to leave the university.

‍

One particularly heartbreaking case involves a student who managed to scrape together enough money to pay off her debt, only to be told she couldn’t re-enrol. Despite her efforts, she was forced to leave the UK with no right to appeal the decision. This situation has highlighted the struggles international students face when their home countries experience economic crises.

‍

Advocacy groups are now urging universities to show more compassion and support for students caught in such dire circumstances.  The financial crisis in Nigeria is due to a combination of factors, including falling oil prices, skyrocketing inflation, and severe foreign exchange shortages. The dramatic drop in the naira’s value has left many families unable to afford the education they had planned for.

‍

Teesside University’s Nigerian students are not alone in their struggles; similar stories are emerging from other UK universities. With no end in sight for Nigeria’s economy, there’s growing concern about the future of international students from economically unstable regions. There are speculation that some universities are starting to offer flexible payment plans and emergency financial aid to help students in financial distress. However, the situation at Teesside University shows that much more needs to be done to support students through unexpected financial crises. The hope is that more universities will adopt policies that recognise the real-life challenges faced by international students and provide the necessary support to help them continue their education, regardless of economic upheavals in their home countries.

‍