NIGERIANS’ GOLD RUSH FOR FOREIGN DEGREES IS THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S VIEWPOINT
For many young Nigerians, obtaining a foreign degree has become a key to unlocking new opportunities and a better life.
It has become a desperate escape from a failing educational system and an uncertain future.
The mass movement, popularly referred to as the japa syndrome has now extended deeply into the educational sector, with thousands of students trooping abroad each year in search of a better academic and professional future.
The term japa means to flee in Yourba language and has become a byword for young Nigerians’ quest for greener pastures.
With reliable academic schedules, well-resourced research facilities, and internationally recognized qualifications, studying abroad also offers the potential for permanent residency in more stable countries.
However, most Nigerian public universities are riddled with systemic challenges.
It is sad to note that Nigeria’s education system has been plagued by frequent strikes, crumbling infrastructure, outdated curricula, inadequate funding, overcrowding, and poor support services, eroding confidence in its ability to deliver quality education.
Also, an average student in a Nigerian public university is at the mercy of strike calendars and shifting graduation timelines, which has become a sharp difference from the predictability of international academic institutions.
According to UNESCO, approximately 71,753 Nigerian students were studying abroad as of 2020.
Some sources suggest the number has grown to over 100,000, but the UNESCO figure is the most recent official data.
Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and more recently, some Europe countries and the United Arab Emirates, have become top destinations for Nigerian students.
It is unfortunate that this educational exodus is not without consequences.
While some families are selling their properties, taking out loans, or exhausting life savings to fund these foreign degrees, some students fall victim to fake agents or find themselves in countries where academic expectations are mismatched or support systems are inadequate.
Despite the challenges, many believe the benefits outweigh the risks, especially given Nigeria’s persistent struggles with graduate unemployment and underemployment.
The government has largely responded with silence or mere political statement s, failing to take meaningful action.
While some agencies have called for reforms and investment in higher education, little has changed.
Nigeria’s education funding consistently falls short of UNESCO’s recommended 15-20% allocation for developing nations.
A review of the country’s education budgets from 2015 to 2025 shows allocations have never met this benchmark.
Without urgent, targeted interventions such as curriculum review, infrastructure upgrades, and staff welfare improvements, the brain drain will only worsen.
Furthermore, the japa syndrome may worsen inequality, creating a divide where only those who can afford it have access to quality education and global opportunities.
Until Nigeria begins to prioritize education as a pillar of national development, the classrooms will continue to empty, not just of students, but of hope.
In conclusion, rather than just lamenting the brain drain, it is time for policymakers, educators, and society to tackle the systemic issues driving talented Nigerians abroad and work towards making local degrees more valuable and attractive.
