As evident in the turnout of the 7th Canadian Education Fair held in Lagos over the weekend, more Nigerians dissatisfied with the present level of tertiary education in the country continue to seek education in foreign institutions.
At the Fair, held at the Lagoon Restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos, Josiah Osagie, an SS3 student of White Sands School, Lekki, said studying in Nigerian universities is equivalent to redundancy in character and learning; thus, his desire to study Medicine in Canada, where he believes his opportunities are limitless.
“In Nigeria, the environment is not conducive. There are constant strikes, the teaching standards are unacceptable, nothing gets done! This country does not provide the opportunities I seek to make a positive difference in my life. So I have to help myself,” expressed Master Osagie.
Sharing the same view, Linda Ogazi, an SS1 student of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, along with other students from over 17 secondary schools from Lagos State, said the Nigerian government has failed to encourage Nigerians to make them want to study in Nigeria.
“Canada’s education standard is higher. Their institutions are better funded, they have better equipment. You can even study and work while in Canada. But here, even if you get into school, there are no jobs,” said 14-year-old Miss Ogazi.
For Alan Kachi, a 16-year-old SS2 student of St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, who wants to be a petrochemical engineer, studying anywhere from Nigeria is a guarantee against harassment from cultists and victimisation from teachers.
Commenting, the director of Sharon Consultants Ltd., based in Canada and Nigeria, Bolajoko Adejobi, who, representing several Canadian institutions, helps international students with their admissions and visa packaging, said there has been an increase of Nigerians seeking to study in Canada.
“International admission seekers are increasing. At the Fair in Abuja, we had more post-secondary school leavers. But here in Lagos, we have seen more graduates seeking to study in Canada. And this is because Nigerian institutions are not internationally accredited,” Mrs. Adejobi said.
The Canadian Deputy High Commission’s Second Secretary working in the immigration sector, Mary Macleod, explained that though the Canadian government is receptive to international students, all immigrants must fulfil three mandatory visa requirements.
“You must prove you are going for the reason stated. You must have the money to do what you say you are going to do and that you will return afterwards to your country. And you must prove you are not inadmissible. It is on you to show these to us and not for us to find out,” Mrs. Macleod said.
She said applicants or their sponsors should present original bank statements from specific banks, showing that in the last six months, the required funds to cater for the period of the applicant’s stay in Canada are present. She also said for applicants with multiple sponsors, credible proof of each sponsor’s capacity and dedication to the applicant must be provided.
Stating that even with a visa, a permit must still be obtained before entering Canada, Mrs. Macleod said mature students, who have been out of school for a few years but now want to further their education, should provide evidence they have been building towards returning to school.
“Mature students have more to overcome in area of proof than a fresh school leaver. They can apply but they should have evidence that during their time out of school, they have been working, obtained Internet credits or did some certification programmes from reputable schools,” Mrs. Macleod added.
Confirming the disadvantage for mature students, Leo Barsony, the International Education Co-ordinator for Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ontario, Canada, said even when Canadian schools give letters of acceptance, applicants aged between 17-25 years stand better chances of being given visas.
“I have been doing this for 30 years and I don’t know how immigration works because I’ll send them two exact files but of different people and they’ll accept one but refuse the other. A person’s age is not a hindrance to schools but for immigration, it is,” said Mr. Barsony.
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