And she says she could not have finished her course without the help and support of her siblings, extended family, academic staff, friends and well-wishers. 

“It’s been one of the toughest years of my life. I lost my mum - my only surviving parent – my family had to come together to pay my final year school fees following the scarcity of foreign exchange and the recession in Nigeria. Also, I had to work to support my living expense and my other day-to-day cost. 

“I was working three shifts which was very inconvenient for my studies but I had no choice… However, I quit the jobs because I could not keep up with it”. 

Her father died in 2007 and soon after her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour while Tiffany herself has a heart condition. 

“I have to be careful and live near a hospital in case something happens.”  

“My friends here at Lancaster helped me out financially following my mum’s demise and I really couldn’t have done it without their help. 

“I want to say a big thank you to all the people who have made a huge contribution to my life. I don’t know what I would have done without the help of as well as academics like Professor James Sweeney and Phil Lawton.”  

With their support, Tiffany was able to focus on her studies and gaining a first-class degree. 

She now aims to return to Lancaster to complete a PhD in Law. 

“My life has worked out perfectly thanks to the help and support I received at university.”