Hi everyone,

I’m setting this up on behalf of a dear friend who really needs help right now.

He’s a brilliant Nigerian currently in the second year of his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Essex in the UK. For the past two years, he has worked tirelessly, fully funding his studies out of pocket and pouring his entire life savings into this dream over £37,000 spent so far.

He’s not on scholarship. He didn’t come from wealth. He came with a vision: to do meaningful research, to create impact, and to return home and contribute to technological development in Nigeria and beyond.

But the truth is, he’s hit a wall and not because of lack of effort.

When he started this program, the exchange rate was around ₦800 to £1. Today, it’s over ₦2200 to £1. That’s a nearly 3x increase. The money he budgeted in naira can no longer stretch. What used to cover a year’s worth of fees and living expenses now barely covers a few months.

He’s been doing everything he can to hold on taking on a payment plan, cutting back on living costs, sacrificing comfort but it’s no longer enough. He’s at risk of being de-registered and losing his visa if he can’t make his next tuition payments.

What hurts the most is knowing how hard he’s worked. He’s never missed an academic milestone. He’s done everything right. And now he’s facing the possibility of having to give it all up not because of failure, but because of a financial system completely outside his control.

I’ve seen how much this means to him. I’ve seen the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the resilience. And I truly believe that a little help from kind strangers can keep his dream alive.

If you’re in a position to give, please consider helping him stay in school. Every contribution, no matter how small, will go directly toward his tuition. And if you can’t give, please share this with someone who might be able to.

Thank you so much for reading. Let’s help him finish what he started.