My name is Joy, and I’m a Nigerian law student at University College Dublin. I’m reaching out today with a heart full of hope and urgency because I am just one step away from completing my law degree, but I may not make it without your help. I need €10,000 to enable me to resume my final year.

The Journey So Far

I come from a modest, middle-income Nigerian household where the combined annual income of my family is less than the cost of a single year of my university tuition. Despite this, my dreams have always reached far beyond the limitations of my circumstances.

I began my academic journey studying Law at a federal university in Nigeria, but everything changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools reopened, my university fell into repeated cycles of strikes and closures. In three years, I completed only one year of my degree. I was frustrated, stuck and heartbroken, but I refused to give up.

Law is more than a career path for me. It is a calling. I believe deeply in justice, equity and using legal systems to support sustainable community development. With that belief, I made a bold decision. I started applying to universities abroad, hoping for a place where my education would be stable and where my potential could grow. I also applied for scholarships, knowing that without financial support, my dream would remain a dream.

Through persistence and faith, I was accepted into University College Dublin, one of Ireland’s top universities, to study Law. I was awarded a 50% Global Excellence Scholarship, a testament to my academic ability and commitment. Although I had hoped for a full scholarship, I was determined not to let the remaining financial gap stand in my way.

We Have Come This Far Against All Odds

Since then, my family has done everything possible to support me. They have taken loans, made sacrifices and stretched their resources beyond their limits. I have worked hard to honor their efforts, excel in my studies and stay focused on my goal of using law as a tool for justice, development and positive change in underrepresented communities.

In my second and third years, I secured internships and placements at two top Irish law firms. These opportunities opened a promising path for my future and strengthened my commitment to completing my degree. But now, I’m facing my biggest challenge yet.

The Final Year — and a Final Hurdle (Updated to November 2025)

This year, we have been unable to raise the €10,000 needed for my third-year tuition (to remove my fee hold and register for my final year). I have been applying for bursaries, financial aid and part-time jobs, and I have been working every hour I can. But the gap remains too large.

Because I could not pay the fees before the start of the Autumn semester, I had to take a leave of absence from UCD. This was an extremely difficult decision, especially as I am so close to graduating. My school has now given me a deadline of 15 December 2025 to clear the fee hold from last year so that I can register for the Spring semester and return to complete my degree.

It is now less than a month away, and I have raised only €2,200 out of the €10,000 needed. This includes €922 from this GoFundMe and the rest from months of working, even while managing ongoing medical issues.

I currently pay €900 in rent each month, and my Irish residence permit renewal has been pending for over two months. Because it has not been approved, I am unable to secure more stable work. I am doing my best, but at this point, I cannot meet the December 15 deadline alone.

If I cannot pay this fee in time, I will not be able to register for the Spring semester. I will lose my chance to return, and all the progress I have made over the years will be at risk.

Why I’m Asking for Your Support

I am not only trying to complete a degree. I am trying to build a future where I can contribute through legal advocacy, policy reform and community development. I believe in the power of law to protect the vulnerable and transform societies. I am determined to finish what I started, but I cannot do this without help.

Every contribution brings me closer to being able to return to school in January. Even if you can’t donate, sharing my campaign would mean so much.

Thank you for reading my story and for believing in dreams like mine.

✅ How You Can Help:

• Donate any amount you can. No contribution is too small.

• Share this campaign with friends, family and your networks.