A Nigerian youtuber, Emdee Tiamiyu who asserted in an interview with BBC that Nigerian students do not travel to the United Kingdom because of degree but for greener pastures, said he is realistic in his dealings and also means every word he says in his controversial interview.
Emdee made this known while reacting to the barrage of criticisms that trailed the interview he granted to the BBC where he claimed that Nigerians seeking admission into school in the United Kingdom only considered it as an alternative means to escape from Nigeria.
In the interview, Tiamiyu, who is known for advising Nigerians on studying in the United Kingdom noted that most Nigerians are not looking for new qualifications, but to start a new life abroad.
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.
Clip of the interview went viral shortly after the UK banned foreign students from bringing in dependants.
The youtuber earned backlash with many condemning his assertion.
Irked by the remarks, Nigerians took to social media to vent their anger, while they also accused him of sabotage and betrayal.
This is however not unconnected to the new immigration rules that will prevent Nigerian students, and others studying in the UK, from bringing family as dependents except under specific circumstances.
“Tiamiyu while reacting to the onslaught targeted against him hosted a Twitter Space on Tuesday where he explained that he was not out to seek popularity with the interview.
He said, “I am grateful for being one of the leading voices. I may not be popular. I am not even looking for popularity as long as I have an impact. We have changed lives. God help us with information. Maybe we do a space for that.
“If you have not been on my page before and now you want to shine, are you serious? If you want to shine, ask BBC to interview you too. I mean every word that I say. I talk real, I am very very real. DJ Real is learning from me. I am very humane and personable.
In a separate video chat with a popular broadcaster, Ifedayo Olarinde aka Daddy Freeze, Tiamiyu said he was considering striking a balance between being real and being diplomatic.
He said, “There is a future here and I know there is still more opportunities to do great things. I would have to find a balance between being real and being diplomatic because if you want to be real, you will offend people.”
Daddy Freeze added that he doesn’t have a problem with what the youtuber said but where he said it.
