A report from the Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives has stated that encouraging transnational Education in the country is essential for strengthening the Economy and reducing foreign exchange strain. Quoting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the office released a statement noting that Nigeria spent $28.65 billion for foreign education between 2010 and 2020, with Personal Transport Allowance (PTA) accounting for $58.7 billion of that amount. Part of the funds could have been put toward domestic projects to help the Naira appreciate, it added.
The statement added that Nigeria may draw in more international institutions of learning and maintain its standing as Africa’s largest market for international education by providing scholarships and establishing collaborations for in-country foreign education delivery. The federal government must act quickly to establish laws and cooperate in order to establish regulations that will allow the international education industry to grow sustainably. These measures would make it easier for six universities to become international Tertiary Education institutions, increase the GDP of the nation through education exports, and create a plan for sustained market expansion, it added.
Framework for the International Education Commission.
It further emphasizes how important it is to protect Nigerian students studying overseas, and it names a task committee to work on Insurance policies and qualification recognition. Leading this policy-changing initiative is Osobase Ehizua, a senior legislative aide in the Deputy Speaker’s Office, whose dedication to strong legislative frameworks is in line with the Deputy Speaker’s vision of supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda at the legislative level. With an emphasis on excellence and cooperation, Ehizua is leading the legal framework for the creation of the International Education Commission in cooperation with diplomatic and educational organizations.
In addition to promoting justice and peace, the proposed International Education Commission Bill also aims to protect Nigerian students studying overseas. Strengthening the education sector, improving bilateral ties, and utilizing education as an exportable resource to drive Economic Growth are the objectives. According to the statement, this strategic step promotes cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and skill development alongside academic pursuits. This not only improves the regional educational environment but also follows international trends in which the US and the UK gain considerably from annual education exports.
Wide-ranging advantages of transnational education.
Contrary to common belief regarding finance, Ehizua explained that foreign colleges, organizations, and Investors are very interested in working with Nigeria’s educational sector participants in the proper setting. Nigeria’s international education initiatives have had a detrimental impact on the country’s economy and the value of the naira due to huge foreign exchange outflows for tuition fees. In order to propel the mainstreaming of Transnational Education and align with the global community’s perspective, the Department of Open and Distance Education (now known as the Directorate of Open Distance and e-Learning) was founded by the National Universities Commission in 2011.
Partnerships with leading nations like China, the UK, Canada, the US, and Australia are essential to gratifying the rising need for high-quality education as interest in higher Education in Nigeria soars. Wide-ranging advantages of transnational education include improving the quality of education through the introduction of co-funded scholarship programs, student support services, and the opening of international universities in Nigeria. By embracing transnational education, Nigeria would be able to increase access to foreign education and fortify relationships with international partners.
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As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Nigeria is a party to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which recognizes education as an exportable service. Of the143 authorized universities in Nigeria, 45 (or 31.9%) currently have TNE agreements with foreign institutions, according to data obtained for a 2018 research on TNE by the British Council. Argumentation agreements are the most widely used model overall. Out of the 31.9 percent TNE partnerships that are known to exist, the report indicates that less than 30 percent of these partnerships are active, and an even smaller percentage have effectively accomplished their partnership’s objectives after evaluation.