From 2017 to 2023, Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and other higher education institutions admitted 709 foreign students, despite challenges such as frequent strikes, poor facilities, and difficult learning conditions. This information was revealed by data from the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Sunday.
Meanwhile, more Nigerian students are going abroad for their studies.
The breakdown of the admissions is as follows: 127 international students in the 2017/2018 academic year, 110 in 2018/2019, 161 in 2019/2020, 197 in 2020/2021, 78 in 2021/2022, and 36 in 2022/2023.
The drop in international student admissions in the 2021/2022 academic year was linked to strikes by various academic unions, affecting teaching and administration in the institutions.
Out of the total, 616 international students were admitted into universities, 64 into polytechnics, and 29 into Colleges of Education. These students enrolled in various courses, including Network and Security Systems, Computer Science, Medicine and Surgery, and Business Administration, among others.
Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, from Reform Education Nigeria, spoke about the appeal of Nigerian education to foreign students, mentioning the historical attraction of the University of Ibadan to both students and visiting professors from abroad. Oluwatoyin emphasized the need for government action to improve the reputation and quality of higher education in Nigeria. Highlighting the importance of addressing issues such as strikes and misconduct, he suggested that enhancing the educational system could retain Nigerian students and attract more international students, benefiting the country financially.
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