The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has stated that fewer Nigerians are travelling abroad for studies under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, the trend reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s higher education system and ongoing reforms aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education across the country.
Alausa said the Federal Government has continued to invest in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education while introducing policies designed to strengthen academic standards, research capacity, and institutional infrastructure.
He noted that the number of Nigerians seeking foreign education had reduced compared to previous years, adding that more students are now choosing local institutions for their academic pursuits.
The minister attributed the development partly to improvements in the stability of academic calendars in public universities following efforts to address recurring industrial disputes within the education sector.
For years, Nigeria witnessed a significant wave of students relocating abroad for studies in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and other parts of Europe and Africa.
The trend, commonly referred to as “education migration” or “japa” in popular discourse, was driven by concerns over strikes, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, and perceived declining standards within parts of Nigeria’s education system.
However, Tunji Alausa maintained that recent government reforms are beginning to reverse the situation.
He also highlighted the increasing cost of studying abroad, foreign exchange challenges, and stricter visa policies in some countries as additional factors influencing students’ decisions to remain in Nigeria for higher education.
Education stakeholders say the high cost of tuition and living expenses overseas has made foreign education less affordable for many Nigerian families following the depreciation of the naira.
Analysts also point to tighter immigration and student visa regulations in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia as contributing factors affecting outbound student migration.
Despite the minister’s remarks, some education experts argue that many Nigerian students still aspire to study abroad due to concerns about infrastructure deficits, funding gaps, and global competitiveness within local institutions.
They say sustained investment, improved research funding, enhanced lecturer welfare, and stronger university-industry partnerships will be necessary to significantly reduce education migration in the long term.
The Federal Government has repeatedly pledged to reposition Nigeria’s education sector through reforms targeted at expanding access, improving quality, and strengthening technical and vocational education.
The comments by Tunji Alausa are expected to generate further debate over the current state of Nigeria’s education system and the broader impact of economic conditions on international student mobility.
