The number of Nigerian students enrolling in British higher education institutions has experienced an unprecedented surge, reaching a staggering 127,000 during the previous academic year.
This remarkable increase, marking a five-fold rise over the past three years and underscores the growing preference among Nigerian students for British universities.
In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, shed light on this significant development.
He clarified that the United Kingdom’s new policy on foreign student visas should not be misinterpreted as a deliberate deterrent for Nigerian students. Instead, the policy aims to effectively manage the pressure on social services caused by the influx of international scholars, ensuring sustainable growth.
“Three years ago, there were 20,000 Nigerian students in British higher education institutions, and last year, the number increased to 127,000. So, we had a five-fold increase in the number of students from Nigeria coming to UK universities,” revealed High Commissioner Montgomery.
He emphasized the robust people-to-people links between the UK and Nigeria, highlighting that Nigerians received a remarkable 325,000 out of the three million visas granted by the UK last year, representing over 10 percent of the total.
“We are delighted that UK universities continue to attract the best and brightest from Nigeria… Nigerians alone received 325,000 of those 3 million visas. So more than 10 percent of the visas from the UK are to Nigerian citizens, which is fantastic,” stated High Commissioner Montgomery.
Addressing concerns surrounding the policy change, he clarified that it primarily affects non-research degree programs and students who choose to bring their dependents. The rising number of dependents accompanying Nigerian students has placed a strain on housing and social services in university towns, necessitating adjustments to effectively manage the increasing demands.
“The words that are being used in the media to describe the situation are misrepresenting. We are making an adjustment that enables us to manage the demands on services in university towns and elsewhere,” High Commissioner Montgomery clarified.
Despite the challenges posed by the influx of international students, High Commissioner Montgomery reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to accommodating Nigerian students.
He expressed pride in the UK’s research institutes and higher education institutions, which rank among the top hundred universities globally.
“The higher institutions are very open to students going to study in the UK,” he remarked.