In a move to alleviate financial pressures on Nigerian students, Teesside University in the United Kingdom has introduced a more compassionate payment method for tuition fees.
This announcement was made by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), during a press conference on Thursday ahead of the National Diaspora Day Celebrations 2024, scheduled for July 25.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that while students are still required to pay their fees, the new arrangement aims to make the process more manageable.
For students who were near completion of their payments and had been asked to leave, an agreement has been reached allowing them to finish their payments and receive their certificates once all fees are settled.
“The Teesside University has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient,” she stated.
“For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they completed their payment.”
Dabiri-Erewa also noted that Teesside University is not the only institution affected; many other universities have Nigerian students facing similar issues.
“We are working closely with the student organisations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges,” she added.
Highlighting the broader context of migration, Dabiri-Erewa pointed to economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate living standards as primary drivers behind the increasing exodus of Nigerians abroad.
She noted that the theme for this year’s National Diaspora Day, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” reflects growing concerns over the demographic most affected by this migration—Nigeria’s youth.
“Factors such as economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate standard of living are ranked high among reasons for the exodus of Nigerians abroad. The consequence of this phenomenon is the decline of strong human resources because most of the Nigerians relocating are the youths,” Dabiri-Erewa noted.
“This, in turn, makes a downward turn on labour and productivity in the country.”
Despite these challenges, Dabiri-Erewa called for a change in perspective, urging Nigerians to see the positive side of the situation.
“We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud,” she concluded.
Vanguard
