Nigerian students in Ghana plead for extension of school fee deadlines

Nigerian students studying in Ghana are appealing to the management of tertiary institutions across the country to extend the deadline for the payment of school fees.

Nigerian Students in Ghana Seek Extension of School Fee DeadlinesThe National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ghana Chapter, is making this plea due to concerns related to the fluctuating exchange rate between the Ghanaian cedi and the Nigerian naira, resulting in escalating school fees.

NANS President, Sam Edem, highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerian students in Ghana during a recent media interview. He expressed his understanding that the Nigerian government is actively working to address the currency exchange issue with the naira. Still, he urged Ghanaian tertiary institutions to consider their plea and provide a grace period for fee payments.

Edem emphasized the importance of accommodating Nigerian students during this challenging time, stating, “So, while I am putting out word to our government back home, we would appreciate it if a lot more is done about this issue.

And we appeal to our institutions here to give the Nigerian students that allowance for the period to ensure that they are able to meet their obligations with regard to fees.”

According to Lamido Sanusi, the former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, who spoke during a public lecture in 2022, there are over 70,000 Nigerian students pursuing their education in Ghana.

Sanusi revealed that although there is no comprehensive data on the exact number of Nigerian students studying abroad, recent estimates indicate that approximately 71,000 Nigerian students in Ghana contribute approximately US$1 billion annually towards tuition fees and living expenses.

Sanusi further stated, “In other words, the money spent by Nigerian students studying in Ghana with a better-organized system is more than the annual budget of all federal universities in the country.”

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh