I dashed to Westminster for a three hour debate on Palestine and then back to my constituency office (yoyos have nothing on me) for a quick photo with Tunde.

His story is so moving and extraordinary – that I post it for you here. Lynne Awbery also came for the photo. She has driven the happy outcome for Tunde through – and whilst I helped, so did others. Including – my assistant Thuranie, who phoned Liam Byrne (Labour minister) virtually every day to say I wanted a meeting and clearly drove them mad – culminating in my threat to tackle him in the Lobbies; and Kurt Barling (TV news reporter) who gave this really good coverage.

Lynne (the other Lynne) says everyone’s attitude started to change with Kurt’s report. Between us – we got a result. The following ‘Tunde’s Story’ is written by Lynne:

Tunde was brought to England from Nigeria as a 6 year old, handed over to a woman who was no blood relative and lived a life of domestic servitude, abuse and emotional cruelty, as many children trafficked from Africa do. He was told his parents were dead, but we have discovered his mother only died in 2001 in Lagos, when Tunde was 15. He has no recollection of Nigeria or his family. The man he was introduced to as his uncle, is named as his father on his birth certificate.

At the age of 18 this woman (also Nigerian) ejected him from her family home as presumably he had outlived his usefulness and she could no longer claim child benefit for him and he was left to fend for himself without relatives, money or documentation. He had no birth certificate, passport or any documents to identify who he was, despite having been educated in Haringey for 12 years. As a homeless person, my family and I took Tunde into our home and have supported him for the past two years. I met Tunde when I was teaching at Park View Academy in Tottenham, where he had specialist support for his severe dyslexia. Despite being educated in Haringey for over 10 years, Haringey would take no responsibility for his situation – he was not entitled to apply for housing or benefits as he was identityless.

I contacted every authority and institution set up to help vulnerable people, but none could or would help Tunde, but despite his dire circumstances, had gained a place at university. He applied to Haringey for a student loan, but was turned down as he had no documents to prove he was allowed to be in the UK. In desperation I contacted a journalist from the BBC who has been following Tunde’s story. He has been magnificent in supporting and guiding us to obtain documentation – which he did single handedly from Nigeria – and steering up towards a reputable solicitor.

Tunde’s documents are with the Home Office and have been for 6 months – we have recently been told that because he has been here illegally for 14 years, he may not be granted leave to remain or settled status, despite none of this being his fault. He would then be under threat of deportation to a country he knows nothing of, without family, friends or finance.

The chances of a young, black, dyslexic boy, trafficked from Africa, used and abused and then discarded, making it to university are remarkable. Haringey had the opportunity to celebrate such success against the odds by sanctioning his student loan, but have refused to do so. For the last year, with the help of family and friends, I have financed Tunde’s first year at university.

He is enrolled at the Arts Institute at Bournemouth and following a BA in Animation Production. I have kept in close contact with the university and they are aware of his on-going financial difficulties but have so far not pressed us for the fees. Tunde has become a model student as well as a model citizen and has a successful first year, gaining in confidence and stature, hoping to put the past behind him and move on with his life.

However, Haringey still will not sanction his student loan until they see ‘Settled Status’ stamped in his passport. This is unlikely to be resolved before he returns to university in September and I have now run out of funds to support him. I will be facing the cost of his accommodation, daily living and now 2 years worth of fees. I have trawled the length and breadth of charities to no avail. I have relied on the good will and financial support of friends and colleagues when I believed it would only be for one year.

Tunde’s place at university is now in jeopardy as without the funding he will not be returning in September. My own daughter of the same age is also at university. She has the benefit of a stable, supportive family and a student loan – Tunde’s life is just about to begin when again it looks as if he will have to put it on hold unless we can find sources of funding to continue his education.

Happily he can. We have succeeded. At last the Home Office has granted Tunde indefinite leave to remain – and it is just in time for him to get his student loan – so he is on the road to University and a happy ending.