NIGERIAN students enrolled at Swansea University in Wales, United Kingdom, have raised concerns over facing potential deportation after encountering difficulties with their tuition fee payments. Despite handing over thousands of pounds to the university, some students have been removed from their courses and asked to return home due to payments arriving ‘hours late.’
Abebe Selassie, a Nigerian student, shared their predicament with ITV News Wales, revealing that a banking crisis during Nigeria’s presidential election in February led to payment delays. The country faced a cash crisis while transitioning from its old currency to a new one.
Selassie and other affected students provided evidence indicating that payments were transferred to the university’s account shortly after the deadline on March 27th. Despite the prompt payment, some students were informed that they could no longer continue their studies and were advised to defer their courses.
Omolade Olaitan, one of the students affected, shared her frustration, ‘I promised my mother back home in Nigeria that I am coming here to develop myself. Every day my mum calls me and asks how is school going. I can’t even tell her. This is the situation I am in because I don’t want her to get worried, it is that bad.’
Emmanuel Okohoboh, another student, revealed the emotional toll the situation has taken, ‘Coming here and going through this situation has been mentally draining and frustrating for me.’
The students were pursuing master’s degrees at the School of Management at Swansea University’s Bay Campus. In response, the university acknowledged the banking challenges in Nigeria but stated that some students had not met payment deadlines.
Swansea University’s spokesperson emphasised, ‘The University has closely monitored the deteriorating situation in respect of the impact of the Nigerian banking crisis and we have revised our existing policy around payment of fees and enrolment to further support our students.’
Despite the university’s revised policy, the affected students expressed their disappointment with the institution’s handling of the situation. Their distressing stories highlight the challenges international students face when unforeseen circumstances impact their ability to meet payment deadlines.