Sodiq Mojibola
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has expressed deep concern over the alleged deportation of Nigerian students from Teesside University in the UK for defaulting on their school fees.
This development was disclosed in a press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocol at NiDCOM, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Commission, announced that a delegation would visit the university’s management to address the issue.
“A delegation, led by a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, Amb. Christian Okeke, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, will visit the management of Teesside University to intervene in the allegations of an unfair and unjust deportation order served on some Nigerian students in the middle of their studies,” she stated.
The decision came after a virtual meeting held on Sunday, involving Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Amb. Christian Okeke, Mr. Yemi Soile, President of the Nigerian Students Union UK, and several affected students. During the meeting, the students shared their ordeal, expressing hope for a positive resolution.
“The affected students passionately narrated their ordeal and were optimistic about a positive intervention,” the statement noted.
Dabiri-Erewa urged the students to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands, while also appealing to the university to handle the situation with justice and fairness.
“We are committed to ensuring that our students are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” she emphasized.
The issue came to light when some Nigerian students at Teesside University staged a protest on May 22, following the university authorities’ directive for them to leave the UK due to alleged non-payment of school fees.
NiDCOM’s intervention aims to ensure that Nigerian students abroad are not unfairly treated and that their rights are protected.
The Federal Government’s proactive stance highlights its commitment to the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly students striving to further their education in foreign countries.
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