Ukraine War: Nigeria Student Has ‘No Option But To Return To Study’

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Meandering through the bustling traffic in Nigeria’s main city, Lagos, Oyewumi Azeez Olawale makes his way to a visa appointment.

Just a year ago, the Nigerian medical student was scrambling to find safe passage out of Ukraine after the Russian bombardment began on 24 February.

But with other studying options effectively closed off, he returned to Ukraine later in the year for another term. Now, he wants to travel there again.

“I am going back to Ukraine because I need to finish my final year, sit my exams and collect my certificate,” said the 28-year-old.

“There are no options for me in Nigeria,” he added.

Ukraine was home to more than 80,000 foreign students in 2020, nearly a quarter were from Africa.

Some are considering returning to Ukraine as they struggle to find somewhere to finish their studies.

For Mr Olawale, the choice was easy.

In July 2022, the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MCDN) said it would no longer accept degrees from Ukrainian universities awarded online. It was a move that Ghana’s medical council copied two months’ later.

“I needed to finish my degree in person,” Mr Olawale said.

He was fortunate that the place where he was studying was a long way from the frontline.

Mr Olawale is in his final year at the National University in Uzhgorod, which has been largely shielded from the destruction of the war as it is in western Ukraine near the border with Slovakia.

“My city is safe and it’s the best option for me,” Mr Olawale told the BBC.

Others have not been as lucky.

Ukraine was a hotspot for those seeking affordable education in Europe, known for its straight-forward visa processes, low tuition fees and high standard of schooling.

After spending years saving up for their degrees, returning home empty handed was simply not an option for many students.

But finding a new country to finish their studies has not been easy.

Jessica Orakpo, the Nigerian medical student whose experience of racism while trying to flee Ukraine last year gained widespread coverage, is among those considering returning.

She initially fled to Hungary and then moved to the Netherlands where she now lives with a host family.

Her temporary visa expires in a month unless she gets a skilled job.

Having graduated in 2022, she is now a qualified doctor, but says job hunting without Dutch language skills has been a challenge.

“My only options are to stay here or go back to Ukraine.

“Some people say why don’t you just go back to Nigeria? But they don’t understand, that’s easier said than done,” Dr Orakpo said, citing the country’s worsening economic and healthcare systems.

“I have a goal in life, I want to practice medicine,” she said, adding that the security situation in Nigeria makes that a challenge.

Getting a visa to return to Europe would be near impossible if she returned to Nigeria as having lived outside the country since 2016 she has no permanent address or bank account, she said.

By: BBC