My wife and I have known each other for nearly two years. We met online and, despite our initial skepticism, took a chance on each other. I feel incredibly lucky to have her in my life—her love and support have been unlike anything I’ve experienced, especially as someone who comes from a broken family. She holds a Higher National Diploma in civil engineering and dreams of pursuing her master’s degree. Ideally, we would live together, but because my job is in the US and she is not eligible to apply for a visa, we have to start our lives together apart.

She has been accepted into several schools in the UK, including the University of Portsmouth and Strathclyde. Unfortunately, funding her education has become a major challenge. The main loan provider for Africans in the UK, Prodigy Finance, is no longer supporting students from her region. On top of that, the cost of travel to Nigeria so we can see each other is high, leaving little room for other important expenses. The demands of life have weighed heavily on me, affecting my mental health and forcing me to take unpaid time off from my job serving veterans at a VA hospital.

Divisive immigration policies have kept us apart, making it impossible for us to live together as a family. We are asking for help to cover tuition, travel, and living expenses so we can build our lives together despite the obstacles. Any assistance would mean the world to us, and I promise to pay it forward and support others in need.