Minister: 99,985 Nigerians left to study in UK varsities within five years

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says no fewer than 99,985 Nigerians left the country to study at universities in the United Kingdom (UK) between 2017 and 2022.

The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2023 University of Lagos International Week on Monday.

He was quoting data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), an organisation that collects, analyses, and disseminates quantitative information about higher education in the UK.

Tunji-Ojo said over 100 Nigerian students win scholarships for postgraduate and PhD degrees every year.

The minister said the ministry of interior has commenced the automation of the end-to-end passport application process to aid  Nigerian students seeking foreign universities’ admission.

“By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport,” he said.

“By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online.

“And by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passport delivered to their homes, offices and other locations of their choice.”

Tunji-Ojo said the technology would also be deployed to the visa application process to make it as seamless as possible.

He said his office has set everything into motion to open 12 more visa application centres across the world.

“In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy,” he said.

“We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of reciprocity and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this.”