DAMILOLA AJAGBONNA, the Nigerian-born former head boy of a Church of England school, Gregg Academy, in Haringey, north London, has been given exceptional leave to remain in Britain. His fight to remain after the age of 18 was supported by the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres.
Mr Ajagbonna, who is now 20, returned to London this month, and is to take up a place at a church university, Roehampton. Welcoming the Home Office U-turn, the Bishop said that Mr Ajagbonna’s return was a huge relief. “He has much to offer this country, and we were worried that the Home Office had not taken his past and potential contribution into account.”
Informally adopted by his British aunt, Mr Ajagbonna gained 13 GCSEs and three A levels at Gregg Academy, where he was regarded as a model student, was a mentor to younger pupils, and was appointed a youth adviser to the United Nations. After becoming aware of his unofficial status when he applied to university, he began a two-year struggle with Home Office rules, backed by his former school and the London Diocesan Board of Education.
The Bishop, who earlier this year presented him with the St Mellitus medal for his contribution to his school, raised his case in Parliament (News, 15 February). It was also taken up by the Skills Minister, David Lammy, a former member of the Archbishops’ Council.
Threatened with deportation, Mr Ajagbonna left for Nigeria in June, but returned last week after he was given exceptional leave to remain in Britain for three years. He was met at the airport by Jon Holt, head of the sixth form at Gregg Academy. The school has offered him part-time employment while he studies, as he is unlikely to qualify for a student loan and other benefits.
Though Sheffield University had kept open his place, he has taken up Roehampton’s offer to charge him home-student tuition fees of Ł3000 rather than the overseas rate of Ł10,000. |
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