JAPA: UK-based Nigerian, Emdee Tiamiyu betrays Nigerians, other international students in BBC interview

Emdee Tiamiyu, a Nigerian YouTuber, is currently facing backlash on social media following a recent interview he gave to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

In a BBC interview, Tiamiyu, a British YouTuber, said that many Nigerians and other international students were not searching for new degrees but rather a fresh start abroad.

He claimed that the majority of people who applied to study in the UK did so solely as a secondary means of escaping Nigeria.

He said, “The student route is more like an answered prayer. It is a big bracket that’s able to take a lot of people, the ordinary people.

“We’re beginning to see that a lot of people just hide behind the studentship. So the student thing is not real, it’s not like they need the degrees,” he added.

Tiamiyu, who is based in Birmingham, granted the interview in the wake of the new immigration rules that will prevent Nigerian students, and others studying in the UK, from bringing their families as dependants except under specific circumstances 

Under the new rule, which will take effect in January 2024, the UK will remove the permission for international students to switch out of the student route and into work routes before their studies have been completed to prevent misuse of the visa system.

Nigerians, who felt displeased by Tiamiyu’s submission said he had ruffled the chances of those who genuinely planned to study in the UK.

Others also described him as a clout chaser who was seeking popularity.

A Twitter user, Francis Ebuara, said, “Dear BBC, 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 and not for Nigerians.”

Another user, Bizzle said, “What @EmdeeTiamiyu said in the interview was unhealthy!

He has really made bad history, and the internet will never forget it. Sometimes it is healthy to bridle your mouth than speaking in a happy state of mind. He was too happy to be interviewed and decided to blow the whistle.”

Another tweep, Daniel Regha, said, “Emdee Tiamiyu is a mindless clown. Nigerians are already being stigmatised, our country has a negative image but instead of correcting the wrong perceptions he deliberately threw Nigerians under the bus for views and cheap clout. Ignorance is a disease. Hope karma visits him soon.”

Also in his reaction, Omolomo tweeted, “Emdee Tiamiyu finally japa and all he could do was to block the same channel he used for those coming.”

Wanjukay also tweeted, “This Emdee Tiamiyu just made foolery of himself on #BBC . Nigerian students have immensely contributed to UK economy through post-graduate studies. Stereotyping and jumping to conclusions like this just to gain YouTube views is destructively greedy.”

Defending himself, Tiamiyu in a chat with Nigerian media personality, Daddy Freeze via Instagram Live Session, Tiamiyu said he made the assertion because 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]…”

Daddy Freeze added that he doesn’t have a problem with what the YouTuber said but where he said it.

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