Nigeria sees decline in students going overseas for education, according to government official

Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has downplayed concerns about a large number of Nigerian students leaving to study at foreign universities, stating that the situation has improved significantly under the current administration.

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During a Tuesday interview on Channels Television, Alausa attributed the increased attractiveness of Nigerian universities to investments in academic continuity and institutional quality, making them more appealing to potential students.

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A recent data point from 2023 was cited by the presenter, which showed Nigeria ranking third globally for outbound student mobility, accounting for about five per cent of worldwide student movement, with only China and India having higher numbers.

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Alausa disputed the accuracy of these figures, describing them as outdated and not reflective of the current situation, saying "That's not Japa, and please, qualify your data, thank God you told me it was 2023 figure".

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The minister noted that 2023 was a time of significant disruption in Nigeria's education system, marked by prolonged academic shutdowns and underinvestment in tertiary institutions, which has since changed.

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Alausa explained that his ministry's educational support services department has been monitoring outbound student movement and has observed a sharp decline in the number of students leaving to study abroad.

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He stated that the numbers have seen a "precipitous drop" and that Nigeria's tertiary institutions have improved, with academic continuity and session continuity now in place.

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The Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board, known as JUPEB, was cited by Alausa as an example of growing confidence in local alternatives, with the programme now being taken domestically and experiencing oversubscription.

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Alausa also mentioned the University of Lagos law school and other top institutions as examples of programmes that are now turning away applicants due to excess demand.

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He concluded that the quality of education in Nigeria has improved significantly, with students now opting to stay in the country, and that a comparison of the 2023 data with 2024 and 2025 data would reveal a significant drop in the number of Nigerian students going abroad.