Fewer Nigerian students leaving for foreign universities, says education minister

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has dismissed concerns over a mass exodus of Nigerian students to foreign universities, stating that the trend has sharply reversed under the current administration.

Speaking on the issue, Alausa argued that recent investments in academic continuity and institutional quality have made Nigerian universities significantly more attractive to prospective students.

He rejected earlier data suggesting Nigeria ranked third globally for outbound student mobility, describing such figures as outdated and unrepresentative of current realities. According to him, those figures reflected a period of severe disruption in the country’s education system, marked by prolonged academic shutdowns and underinvestment in tertiary institutions.

The minister noted that conditions have since changed materially, with his ministry tracking a steep decline in the number of students leaving to study abroad. He attributed the shift to improved academic session continuity and enhanced quality of learning in domestic institutions.

He pointed to the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board, Nigeria’s equivalent of the British A-levels, as evidence of growing confidence in local alternatives. The programme, previously sought abroad by students hoping to gain entry into foreign universities, is now being taken domestically and is oversubscribed.

Alausa also cited top institutions such as the University of Lagos law school as examples of programmes turning away applicants due to excess demand. He maintained that the quality of education in Nigeria has significantly improved, leading more students to remain in the country.