Two Nigerian students, Samson (30) and Chiomi (29) lament hard situation in Sunderland

Two Nigerian students who are currently in the United Kingdom to pursue their post graduate studies have lamented their inability to secure an accommodation in order for them to settle down to their studies.

The two students are laying the blame at the door-step of the Management of the University that offered them admission. The students in a report say they feel “let down” by the University of Sunderland. According to them, the University of Sunderland “should be doing more to help”. They lamented that after paying thousands of pounds in course fees, they found it unbelievable that they do not have a place to live.

Samson Okoro, 30, arrived in Sunderland in September and enrolled on his £13,500 Hospitality and Management course with the dream of one day returning to Nigeria to contribute significantly to the hospitality industry.

Unfortunately for Samson, his dream is currently facing a setback as he appears not to be enjoying the circumstances he has found himself . He has to adopt the floor of the living room of a good Samaritan as his bed. The Samaritan is Ken Devine, a Pastor at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Sunderland, where Samson has been worshipping since arriving at Sunderland.

According to Samson: “When I arrived in the country, my friend didn’t answer her phone. She said she would send me the address, but I have not heard from her.”I was originally in a Travelodge, but that ran out on Friday (October 7) after five days.

“Since then, I have been sleeping on an inflatable lilo on Ken’s living room floor. If I don’t find somewhere soon, I’m going to have to fly back to Nigeria and I will have wasted my money.”

Samson has made frantic efforts to get help from the University so as to move into student halls, but was told there was no space. He is left with no option other than to keep hoping on private letting agencies.

Apparently Samson did not envisage the magnitude of the challenge ahead of him. According to him : “I didn’t think it would be such a big problem. When I was looking at agency websites before I came over here there seemed to be lots of accommodation showing, but each time I go to an agent it looks like the websites haven’t been updated as I’m told there’s nothing available.

ValidViewNetwork reports that there a lot of Nigerians and other overseas students who have the issue of accommodation to contend with in the United Kingdom. This is due to the increasing number of students who are enrolling in the Universities to pursue postgraduate studies and seek a better life for their families.

According to Chiomi: “I’m sleeping on the floor in a friend’s room at the moment, but this is only a temporary arrangement until Sunday (October 16), after which I have nowhere to go – I’m at a breaking point.

“I looked into accommodation when I was in Nigeria. I was told that student halls had already been filled up and agencies said I would need to make arrangements for accommodation in person after I arrived in Sunderland as there was documentation I needed to show and sign. Chiomi was resolute that she is going to stay back in the United Kingdom as she sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Incidentally, both students have been helped by Pastor Ken, 70, who lives in the Chester Road area of Sunderland and who has been visiting the city’s accommodation agencies with Samson and Chiomi to look for ways around the current predicament of the students. However, there is a limit to how long the succour provided by Pastor Ken can help the duo.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Sunderland University is one of the most highly subscribed Universities by Nigerians and other overseas students in their pursuit of postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.

According to Sunderland Echo, the University of Sunderland has called the increase in overseas students a sign of its growing reputation and has stressed it provides “extensive advice” to international students before their arrival.

A University spokesman was reported to have said: “Our international students make a significant contribution to the local economy, and the social and cultural diversity of the region.

“We provide extensive advice to students in advance of their arrival in the UK, including the importance of securing accommodation before travelling from their country of origin.

“This is similar to the advice we give to UK students before they come to Sunderland.”

The university chiefs have also promised to do “do all they can” to help Samson, Chiomi and others find accommodation.

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ValidViewNetwork encourages all overseas students to ensure compliance with advice from their respective Universities and strive to secure accommodation before traveling down to prevent stories that touch the heart.

ValidViewNetwork (2022)