NUC Boss reveals Nigerians studying abroad begging to return home (See Why)

The Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has disclosed that some Nigerian students studying in foreign countries are seeking transfer to Nigerian universities.

Okojie, who spoke during an interactive session with newsmen at the weekend, in Abuja, said some parents and students had also realised that some universities abroad which their children were attending were substandard and that in some cases, they offered unapproved programmes.

He added that the request to transfer home was further heightened by the scarcity of the foreign exchange.

His words: “It is not only the cost of school fees alone, but also the quality of the programmes. Some of these courses are not approved. And some of them know that the institutions they are attending are not approved.

“Yes, our children are coming back. Some of the private universities they attend are not even approved, some of them in Ghana. Lots of parents have been spending money on school fees. Parents have been coming to me to ask for transfer for their children from all over the world.

“And Nigerian students are falling victim of discrimination; there was a case where a Nigerian student who was thrown from the seventh floor. Even the laws are not friendly in some countries like South Africa and India. The attraction of working outside the country by our lecturers has reduced,” he said.

Okojie, however, urged tertiary institutions in the country to look inward in order to generate income.

“If we are waiting every year for government to fund universities, we can’t get anywhere. There is the need to look inward. This would help in our research work. We want to appeal to our people to help our institutions; in United Kingdom and other developed nations, people donate to their alma mater,” he said.

[Daily Post]