British Council director gives reasons Nigerians seek varsity admission in UK

British Council country director, Nigeria, and director for the West African region, Lucy Pearson, has given reasons many Nigerian parents and students pick the United Kingdom for university education.

Pearson, who spoke in Lagos at the fresher event, organized by the Alumni Network for new undergraduate and graduate students heading to University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, said the major connection between UK and Nigeria was education.

She disclosed that Nigerians seek university education in the UK either as first degree or at the postgraduate level because of quality offered by the institutions.

The country director observed that education was a major priority for both countries, adding that “as restrictions on COVID-19 gradually are reduced, we expect to have more Nigerian students heading to UK for university education.”

Students also give reasons why they choose UK over Nigeria in terms of Education

One of the lucky graduates, Ifeoluwa Ogunbufunmi, a law graduate from the University of Lagos, told The Education Report that it was tough getting admission and after trying for six months, she was offered admission and full scholarship to study for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree: “I picked University of Oxford because women are given priority when it comes to admission.”

She advised institutions in Nigeria to make things easier for students and urged government to improve on the salary of lecturers and provide teaching aids to avert incessant strikes.

Another graduate heading to Oxford for an MBA, Chibueze Ewuzie, a product management expert, who got two scholarships, said he picked the university because of their focus on skills and what a student can offer.

“Classroom teaching and real life is different in this country.  There is need to review the curriculum of our universities.

Like Imo State University, the curriculum being used is over 20 years old. I will use my background and what I have done for youths (skill training) as an advantage while in Oxford,” Ewuzie said.

source: The sun