Nigerian students at University of Manitoba face uncertain future

WINNIPEG — Fifty students from Nigeria are caught in the middle of a political tug of war, half a world away, and it’s threatening to derail their education.

“Literally we’ve been, I would use the word abandoned,” Lolokameri Harri, one of the students said. “It’s been so hard.”

The scholarship funding was cut for the students at University of Manitoba 11 months ago after their state government changed, and the new government didn’t want to continue the scholarship program. Now they owe U of M over half a million dollars.

“Our grades, mine especially have been drastically effected. I’m thinking how am I going to pay fees, how will I even put food on the table,” Harri said.

The school is giving the students 30 days to pay the rest of their tuition fees, or they won’t be able to enroll in classes this spring. This could also potentially have the students deported. The university said they are doing what they can to work with each student.

“We as a students union are making sure we give them hardship funding and making sure we can make some funds available while working with the university to make sure they have the best deal possible,” Jeremiah Kopp, student union president said.

These students aren’t alone. According to the Nigerian Association the organization was sponsoring 250 Nigerian students at 14 different Canadian universities.

“We are doing what we can in our own small way to put pressure on the organization,” Kopp said.

As some students start to really feel the pressure, the school’s Nigerian Association has launched a GoFundMe page to get the public’s help.

“These students have been fending for themselves,” Oyimdamola Alaka with the association said. “They’ve had to work long hours, some of them have to go to food banks.”

December 22nd is the last day the students can pay their fees. In the meantime the association is rallying to raise money for the students.