Nearly 450 Nigerien students who have been accepted and enrolled in universities and private schools in France are facing a predicament as the new academic year approaches. In the aftermath of the military coup in their country last July, the doors of the French consulate in Niger remain closed. With no reopening date in sight, no visa applications are being processed.
For students like Issa Ali, who was about to embark on studies at a business school in Paris, the suitcases were almost packed. They are among hundreds ready to depart for France, eager to pursue their higher education at universities or private institutions. However, for weeks now, their future hangs in the balance.
Anxiety and stress are engulfing these students, who find themselves at a loss for words to express their distress. Nineteen-year-old Adama Nouredine, having just obtained his baccalaureate, was set to continue his law studies at the University of Caen in Normandy. He was supposed to be in France by the end of August to begin his first year of university. Faced with this situation, Nigerian students have united and formed the “Collective of Students Admitted to French Universities.” Their goal is to seek solutions from both French and Nigerian authorities.
“The situation is untenable”, says Adam Oumarou, President of the Council of Nigeriens in France (CONIF). “We cannot leave these students in uncertainty and simply state that the consulate is closed indefinitely, it’s unbearable”, he adds.
Packed bags with incurred costs
Having already paid tuition fees in advance, bought plane tickets, secured insurance, and arranged accommodation, parents have made significant expenditures to ensure their children’s education. Despite these challenges, the students remain optimistic, reaching out to the media and holding onto hope. For them, sacrificing their academic year is out of the question. The plight of these students highlights the complex interplay between bureaucratic processes and the aspirations of young individuals eager to pursue their education.