Kunle’s future undecided

THE fate of Nigerian student Olukunle Eluhanla is still in the balance as Justice Minister Michael McDowell has yet to decide on his request to be allowed stay in Ireland.

The 20-year-old, known to his friends as Kunle, was deported home last March when his asylum application had failed.

But after a high-profile campaign by his fellow Leaving Certificate students at Palmerstown Community School in Dublin, the minister reversed his decision and granted Mr Eluhanla a six-month student visa to allow him take his exams last June.

He has since registered on an engineering course at a Dublin college and has also worked part-time in a local supermarket.

A spokesperson for Mr McDowell confirmed the department had received a submission on behalf of Mr Eluhanla. This was done after the minister asked for detailed reasons outlining why he should be given leave to remain in Ireland, following an initial request by the student.

This submission is being considered by department officials, who are expected to make a recommendation on the case to Mr McDowell shortly.

However, the minister’s spokesperson said no decision had yet been made and was unable to say when such a decision was likely.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) supported Kunle’s case and has called for Mr McDowell to grant leave to remain to a small group of ‘aged-out’ minors in similar circumstances.

TUI Leinster representative Jimmy Kelly said there were up to 250 such asylum seekers, aged between 18 and 21, most of whom had been through the Irish education system.

“Many are currently in their Leaving Certificate year but the constant threat of deportation is having a detrimental effect upon them,” he said.

The union is asking that this group’s situation be regularised by granting them leave to remain and that all deportation orders of aged- out minors be suspended while this is being considered.