Great future awaits Nigeria – Campbell, UK-based educationist

By OLUSEYE OJO

For many Nigerian students, studying abroad has become a life-changing experience. They view it as a pathway to academic excellence, personal growth, and global citizenship.

Every year, thousands of Nigerian students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, have been migrating abroad to pursue their education in leading destinations like Canada, United States United Kingdom, and Australia.

The Institute of Statistics, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reported that the number of Nigerian students studying abroad skyrocketed from less than 15,000 in 1998 to over 71,000 in 2015. By 2018, the figure had reached an impressive 96,702 students, as reported by the World Bank.

But the United Kingdom has always been a popular destination for Nigerian students. The UK’s Higher Education Statistic Agency recorded a 64 per cent increase in the number of Nigerian students studying in the country, from 13,020 in the 2019/2020 academic session to 21,305 in the 2020/2021 session. In 2022, the UK issued visas to 65,929 Nigerian students, a significant increase from the 17,973 visas issued in 2019.

But the allure of studying abroad extends beyond the opportunities for personal growth and academic achievement. What can these students who studied or are still studying abroad give back to Nigeria to make the country better? While a number of the lucky students might have vowed never to return to Nigeria, a certain percentage of them have also determined to contribute their quota to the growth and development of their home country.

The International Student Advisory Manager of Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK, Julie Campbell, visited Nigeria recently and spoke about the mindset of Nigerian students studying in the UK.

According to her, Nigerian students have a strong desire to give back to their home country. She expressed her admiration for the nation’s beauty and the infectious energy of its commercial hub, Lagos.

She also commended the friendliness and warmth of the Nigerian people, emphasising their eagerness to talk about their country and learn about others.

Campbell, who led a delegation of the university to Lagos and Abuja recently further acknowledged the generosity and willingness of Nigerian students to help and support others. She noted that the students possess a unique quality compared to students from other countries.

Her excitement about the future of Nigeria was palpable, as she hoped that Nigerian graduates in the UK would bring back their skills to contribute to the country’s growth and reach its full potential.

Campbell stated that Ulster University, in particular, has emerged as a favoured choice for Nigerian students.
I’m having an amazing time. Honestly, everything is so vibrant and full of life. Coming from the UK, its a bit different here. Every time I step out, people are always greeting me with a warm ‘Hi, how are you? How are you finding it here?’ or ‘You should visit this place, you must see that.’ The friendliness is just incredible.

The experience here has been absolutely phenomenal. This is my first time in Nigeria and Africa, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I always keep an open mind when I visit new countries, but the warmth, kindness, and genuine interest of the people have been overwhelming.

The Nigerian people are so eager to talk about their country and what it has to offer and are equally interested in learning about me, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, where were from, and what were doing here.

The Regional Manager for Middle East and Africa at Ulster University, Niall McAleer, echoed Campbell’s sentiments. He emphasized the importance of connecting with new students and helping them prepare for their journey to Belfast. He mentioned the positive response from students in Lagos and Abuja to the events hosted by the university.

Reliving his experience in Lagos, McAleer, noted: It’s really important that we connect with our new students and by coming to Lagos, we can meet them in person and help them prepare for coming to study with us.

“We will look at things like preparing them with the visa process, their accommodation, what to pack, travel, how to get the university, orientation and simply to put their minds at ease. We are here to support the students so that their journey from Lagos to Northern Ireland in the UK is as smooth as possible and they can get settled quickly. Yes, so for us, we typically find that Lagos and Abuja are where many of our students will be located.

In the same vein, the Ulster University’s Country Manager for West Africa, Temitope Ademuyiwa, spoke about the challenging, yet rewarding role of educating students about Northern Ireland as part of the UK and promoting the excellence of the institution.

Ademuyiwa drew attention to the university’s inclusivity, international reputation, and dynamic environment, as well as its high employability rate for graduates.

A media practitioner, Habeeb Adedapo, who is set to leave for Belfast in September 2024, articulated his excitement about studying at the university, after he was influenced by his sister’s positive experience.

Ulster University officials further emphasised the institution’s high caliber programmes, diverse range of disciplines, and commitment to excellence, support, and hospitality.

As Nigerian students have continued to flock abroad in search of educational opportunities, critical stakeholders said it is clear that the future of Nigeria holds great promise based on the aspirations of the international students from Nigeria to contribute to the country’s growth and development.