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‘Betrayal’ — YouTuber Emdee Tiamiyu Under Fire Over Comments About Nigerian Students In UK
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The UK recently announced a ban on Nigerian students bringing dependants to the country.
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The move was said to be aimed at reducing migration.
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Moments after the ban was announced, video of a Nigerian YouTuber commenting about Nigerian students in the UK went viral.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigerians on social media are criticising a Nigerian youtuber known as Emdee Tiamiyu who asserted that Nigerian students do not travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for degrees, but for greener pastures.
In an interview with the BBC, Tiamiyu claimed that for many Nigerian students who travel to the UK, “it’s not really about the education.”
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The YouTuber suggested that Nigerians use student visas as cover for permanent immigration to Britain.
“It is not like they [Nigerian students] need the degree, they need the degree as an access road to come into the country. So, a lot of these people their priorities shifted real fast…It’s not really about their education,” he said.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Csnm8Jls59z/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The comments came just before the British Home Secretary, Suella Braverman announced in a statement on Tuesday, that beginning from January 2024, Nigerians and other international students are barred from bringing in dependants into the UK.
The Home Office said the development was necessary to stop people from using the student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK.
“Last year almost half a million student visas were issued while the number of dependants of overseas students has increased by 750% since 2019, to 136,000 people,” the Home Office said.
“The new reforms will come into effect for students starting in January next year. The government will however work with the higher education sector to explore alternative options to ensure the brightest and best students can continue to bring dependents when they study at the UK’s world-leading universities.”
The UK said overseas students will be stopped from switching from the student visa route to a work visa until their studies have been completed.
It also said it will review the required funds students must have to demonstrate they can look after themselves and their dependants.
Nigerians reportedly constitute 40% of students who bring their dependants into the country.
YouTuber Emdee Tiamiyu speaking to BBC
Moments after the announcement of ban on dependants, Tiamiyu faced a backlash for his comments.
Most social media users accused him of betraying his compatriots unprovoked, wondering what he had to gain for making the indicting comments.
Tiamiyu defended his comments on Tuesday night via an Instagram Live Session with popular Nigerian media personality, Daddy Freeze, saying he was being “real.”
He said, “I do know I would have to find the balance between being real and being diplomatic. If you want to be real, you will offend people. People don dey curse you since because you were mentioning why are they japaring [migrating abroad]…”
Despite Tiamiyu’s attempts to clean up his controversial comments, the criticisms of him have not abated.
On the one hand, if all the Nigerians he has “helped” to the UK via study visas were interested in immigration rather than education, then Emdee Tiamiyu is an unscrupulous individual who should be scrutinised by the UK Home Office.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) May 24, 2023
Dear @BBCNews,
Nigerians have been made aware of a video showing your interview with one “Emdee Tiamiyu” who claimed that Nigerians do not go to the UK because they need the degree. For the avoidance of doubt, your interviewee has spoken strictly for himself & not for Nigerians. pic.twitter.com/thVIgkXI6Q
— Francis Ebuara (@ushiebuaras) May 23, 2023
Nothing funny me pass when that Emdee Tiamiyu old coursemate talk say na so he dey do since 100L days😭😭
— 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊 (@TheMahleek) May 24, 2023
I don't think that The intel provided by Emdee Tiamiyu to the BBC is something they do not already know.
They just needed A black man to validate it.
The Omo Ale just took the bait.
Just like the case of Judas, Jesus already knew the plan but of course, someone must take the fall pic.twitter.com/7usNJf026S— Idongesit Udoewah 🤳 (@idong_udoewah) May 24, 2023
The UK didn't use Emdee Tiamiyu video to formulate that policy but they will use the video to defend the policy.
They will always mention how Nigerians even share their belief citing the video. A ti wo gau
— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) May 24, 2023
As Right-wingers are boringly predictable, I'll say it now.
No Emdee Tiamiyu is not "wrong type of black person".
He's just a crap person.
His skin colour is only relevant to the BBC who used it to legitimise the government's message, & the right-wingers making this argument.
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) May 24, 2023
Whatever you do, don't open Emdee Tiamiyu's apology on YouTube. After spitting gibberish, the guy wants to use Nigerians to make money.
Instead, report his YouTube.
— Alákòwé (@alakowee) May 24, 2023
“A fool is thought to be wise until he opens his mouth”
This post is for Emdee Tiamiyu
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) May 24, 2023
Emdee Tiamiyu case has shown me why making friends with Nigerians in the UK is a recipe for disaster.
My 9ja colleague reported me to my then boss and said I wanted to steal his staff and take them elsewhere.
Shey if I get another place to work I go still dey here with you? 😂
— DECIDER ➍ (@Spend0Gustav0) May 24, 2023
As a Yoruba man, and I am sorry to sound tribal, but emdee tiamiyu is another painful reminder of how we YORUBAs betray each other!
From the time of our ancestors, to colonialism, even to this evil APC government, we have proven that we can betray each other for profit!
— XL2LETTERS (@XL2LETTERS) May 24, 2023
He subsequently apologised in a video he shared on Wednesday morning, saying that he granted the interview to speak on the challenges that the black community genuinely face.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsnrsSorZfR/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
He said, “I am doing this from the reflections and the truthfulness of my heart that you have seen in the interview/news feature. Please, I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
“If what you have seen being circulated has made you uncomfortable in any way at all, I am sorry, deeply and sincerely sorry.
“And why do I say sorry, because for whatever pain that you feel, I feel even more, because if I meet you in person, if we were able to sit in the same space, probably engage, there is nothing in my heart for you other than love, progress and positive support. People who know me in the world know that this is what I have got.
FURTHER READING
“There is no other motivation than to grant an interview to speak on the challenges that we genuinely face as a black community back at home and also in the UK.”
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