30,000 Nigerians to study in UK by 2015 – British MP

A Member of the British Parliament, Mr Iain Stewart, has said that about 30,000 Nigerian students would be studying in various universities across the United Kingdom by 2015.
He said this at a two-day seminar entitled: “Nigeria/UK Best Practice in Education.”
The seminar was organised by Focus Learning Support in collaboration with Global Development Partnerships, Sodji Sports Foundation and the University of East London at the Westminster, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“There will be nearly 30,000 Nigerian students in the UK BY 2015,” the Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Stewart as saying on Thursday.
“These numbers account for seven per cent of the total UK university population; this is a very significant number,” he added.
The MP who explained further that the international students market was worth nearly 10 billion pounds, urged the UK politicians and the academic sector to place more importance on the sector.
“It is a global market and we have to offer the very best courses and best academic practices if we want to continue to attract students in large numbers,” he stressed.
Stewart commended FSL for supporting many students from Nigeria to further their studies in the UK to enable them compete with the global demands.
Also speaking, Dr Sam Wodi of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, in his presentation on the Rivers experience, faulted the perception that the standard of education in Nigeria had fallen.
“This cannot be sustained as more than 40 Bachelors Degree graduates from various Nigerian universities sent on Rivers State Government scholarship to pursue masters degrees in the University of Coventry and Teesside, performed excellently with seven first class.”
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of FSL, Dr Elizabeth Achinewhu-Nworgu, said the organisation in collaboration with the UK Border Agency had facilitated the admission of more than 600 students into the UK universities and colleges since inception in 2003.
“Out of this number 98 per cent have graduated and gone back home to better utilise the skills gained from the British education.
“In 2011, 33 Masters degree Rivers State Scholarship Board (RSSB) sponsored students graduated from the University of Coventry and Teesside and have since returned to work for their communities in Nigeria,” Achinewhu-Nworgu said.
She commended Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for the scholarship initiative and urged other states to emulate the gesture.