Help Me Graduate: Urgent Tuition & Housing Support

Hello Everyone,

My name is Olutade Samuel Raji and I am a 28 year old international student from Nigeria. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Portsmouth.

If I do not pay my tuition balance of £6,680 by April 16, 2025, I will be unable to graduate and will be expelled from my university. I have worked tirelessly to support myself, but due to visa restrictions limiting me to 20 hours of work per week, I am unable to raise this amount by myself.

Apparently I have just been excluded from the programme with consequences of the possibility of being unable to continue with school activities which includes my courseworks and my thesis. I have just been given 10days extension to pay the fees to appeal for the exclusion decision and get myself back into study.

My Story

I have faced many hardships in life. My father passed away when I was just 8 years old. I am the youngest child in my family. I grew up with my two sisters. After my father’s death, we were eventually separated, and I lost contact with them.

Growing up I struggled with unstable housing. I lived in a slum in Nigeria and took on various jobs to survive. I sold bread on the streets of Lagos, worked in a sawmill, and worked at Aluminium Village in Ikeja, Lagos. I did all of this while saving up for my education. My dream was to study medicine, and I was admitted to Obafemi Awolowo University for a degree in Medicine and Surgery. Unfortunately, I had to drop out in my third year because I could not afford to continue while also working to survive.

My passion for science and medicine stems from my father’s battle with a malignant disease before his passing. I want to contribute to cancer research and help find a cure.

Even with all of this, I was determined to continue my education. I was later awarded a scholarship to study Microbiology at Redeemer’s University with the help of my Pastor. During my time there, I decided to help others by volunteering with an NGO and teaching Biology to students in low-income schools. After graduating, I continued my volunteer work by teaching Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at other local schools.

Why I Need Your Help

A kind-hearted individual offered to sponsor my master’s degree at the University of Portsmouth. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, they were unable to continue supporting me.

Now, I am struggling to pay my remaining tuition, afford stable housing, and even cover basic needs like food. I work as much as I can, but my student visa has a work restriction of 20- hours per week.

Your support will allow me to complete my master’s degree and continue toward my ultimate goal of pursuing a Ph.D. in Oncology so I can dedicate my life to researching and finding a cure for cancer.

How Your Donation Will Help

• £6,680 – Remaining tuition balance

• £2,320 – Approximately four months of rent

Every donation, no matter the size, brings me closer to achieving my dreams. If you are unable to contribute financially, please share my GoFundMe with others.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support. I hope to one day pay it forward and help others in need, just as you are helping me now.

*UPDATE – April 16, 2025*

I wanted to share a quick update with you all. As of today, I’ve been officially excluded from my program due to my outstanding tuition fees. However, I have not given up hope. I have been given 10 days to pay my fees and reverse the exclusion.

Your support so far has been encouraging. I am still fighting to stay in school, and every donation or share brings me one step closer to making that happen. Please continue to support, share, and spread the word.

God bless you all,

Olutade Samuel Raji