Nigerian students, affected by the depreciating currency in their home country, are turning to a food charity in the UK for assistance.
Debbie Fixter, the manager of Thornaby’s Sprouts Community Food Charity, SCFC, said over the weekend that the majority of the charity’s clients are Nigerians who are finding it difficult to afford their tuition fees.
SCFC organizes a variety of activities and provides food either for free or at a low cost, along with clothes and household items.
Some students at Teesside University have been forced to withdraw from their studies and return home.
Fixter mentioned that the situation has pushed the charity to maximum capacity.
Inflation in Nigeria has spiralled out of control, accompanied by a depreciating currency and a reduced purchasing power for the average citizen.
Boluwatife Elusakin, a Nigerian, said he has had to dive deep to afford the cost of living and studying in the UK.
“Things are no longer the same.” he said.
“I’ve had to cut costs because of the currency crash, it hit my savings as I’d already budgeted funds to come here.
“It makes me feel sad, but I hope I can endure just one year and all will be well.”
Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the university’s change in payment plans from seven installments to three has exacerbated the situation.
He mentioned that students who previously managed to juggle several jobs to pay for their tuition are now constrained by the legal limit on the number of hours they are allowed to work.
“When I was applying, the exchange rate was around 600 naira per pound, but by the time I arrived, it was 1,400,” he said.
Fixter noted that the university has been proactive, providing a welcome £500 donation of Sainsbury’s vouchers after being informed of the situation.
However, she described this amount as a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to support the influx of students turning to the charity.
Last week, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, announced that the Federal Government had appointed a delegation to visit the management of Teesside University.
NiDCOM stated that this visit aims to address allegations of unfair and unjust deportation.
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