Hi everyone. My name is Amina Yahaya, and I’m starting a fundraiser for my education. I’m the only child of my parents, who work hard to give me a bright future.

In 2023, that dream became a reality. However, with new leadership and new government policies in Nigeria, that dream, for I, and many other Nigerians like me, became threatened. The floating of the naira saw a substantial depreciation of value against the pound. What was formerly N700 to £1 became N2000 to £1 and between December 2023 and February 2024, it rose to N2500 to £1. Overnight, the money my parents had saved for my education became almost worthless.

To survive, I took on multiple jobs to support myself while studying full-time. I worked at the local football stadium while covering night shifts at Tesco and days at the winter wonderland over the winter break. It was exhausting, and balancing those jobs with my demanding law degree (I also participated in the mooting competition and made it to the quarter-finals) took a toll on me physically and emotionally. I got dark circles from this period as a reminder of how hard I worked.

With the changing economic policies and a drastic increase in the cost of living back home, my parents couldn’t assist as much as they would’ve wanted, and this meant that support from home soon dried up. Most of the money I had went to the university after I’d sorted out my essentials. After 1st year, I had to move off campus, which meant I was responsible for my rent now as well. I was lucky to have found a decent and affordable place, but was unable to save up any more to send to the university.

During this time, depression set in. I worried constantly about my situation, my parents, especially after my father was kidnapped, and I struggled to cope with everything. In my second year, things became even more difficult. I experienced a traumatic event, began therapy, and started taking antidepressants. Then, in April, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis and hospitalised for nearly two months, including two weeks in quarantine and another month due to complications. I was taking up to 22 pills a day, including antibiotics, painkillers, and antidepressants. Recovery was slow, but I was grateful to be alive and grateful to be able to rest for a prolonged time.

After my discharge, I could not return to my care job because of ongoing health issues and the physical demands of the work. My savings had gone toward rent and food while I was in the hospital, and since then, I have struggled to stay afloat.

Despite all this, I refuse to give up. My dream remains the same: to use my education to help others, especially women, fight for justice. In 2020, I led a protest demanding justice for victims of gender-based violence I chose to study law because I understood, very quickly, that one of the best ways to implement the change you want to see is to be at the helm of justice, to understand the law, to use it as a tool to protect the vulnerable, and to challenge systems that enable inequality. In my second year, I joined the Justice Project at UEA, where I work with a team of law students to help people in prison across England and Wales who believe they’ve been wrongfully convicted. It’s incredibly meaningful work, and I am proud of myself for being accepted to the program as well as the work we do for the people. I am supposed to be entering my third and final year but have been unable to register, as I still owe the university money. My mental health is in shambles but i know i need to strive for my future and with your help, that is possible.

Studying law is not just a career path for me; it is my life’s purpose. I want to understand the law so I can use it to protect the vulnerable, challenge inequality, and build a fairer society.

Today, I am asking for your help to stay in school and finish what I started. Your donation – literally nothing is too small – will go directly toward my tuition and living expenses, as I currently don't have a job, but I'm actively job searching.

Your kindness can help me continue on this path and, one day, give back to others who need hope and opportunity.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer.

With gratitude,

Amina Yahaya