Posted by From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja on
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney, yesterday said 38,000 Nigerians applied to study in various British universities between 2003 and 2005.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney, yesterday said 38,000 Nigerians applied to study in various British universities between 2003 and 2005.
Gozney stated this at the opening of a three-day Education UK Fair 2005, which kicked-off yesterday with the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, declaring it open.
The fair, which has 49 universities including Nottingham Trend University, Liverpool; John Moores University, London; Metropolitan University; Oxford Brookes University; City University; University of Glasgow; The University of Hull; and Leeds Metropolitan University, witnessed a large turn out of prospective students.
The envoy said in 2003, 2004 and 2005, they received 6,000, 12,000 and 20,000 applications respectively from Nigerians who wanted to study in higher institutions in Britain.
He said though not all applicants were granted visas, the rising figures were indicative of how Nigerians were chasing education, especially in the United Kingdom.
He said for those being rejected visas the refusal may not be unconnected with some dishonesty of the candidates in filling their application forms.
"Majority are getting their visas and I hope they are getting into the universities. The basic thing to do to get visa is to be clean and be honest with the visa officials," he said.
Gozney said apart from the high quality of education offered by British universities, other attraction included the predictability of graduation period.
The Director, British Council, Dr/ John Richards, said in his welcome address that the fair was an opportunity for those who desired to study in Britain and their parents to meet with representatives of UK universities.
He said most of the institutions represented at the fair had considered link with the international community.
Okebukola applauded the collaboration between the country and UK higher education system. He said the spirit of globalisation informed the participation of the commission at the fair.