Dr. Chukwuzubelu Ufodike, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, compared the practical, hands-on approach in the U.S. with Nigeria’s primarily theoretical educational system, attributing the success of many Nigerian students overseas to their strong theoretical underpinnings. Structural issues including inadequate academic facilities and bad Infrastructure discourage Nigerian professionals working overseas from coming back, according to Dr. Ufodike. In the rapidly expanding sector of Advanced Additive Manufacturing, which involves 3D printing, his group, Blacks in Additive Manufacturing (BiAM), advocates for the representation of under-represented communities.
In a different capacity, his consulting business, Graduate Excel, provides career transition, resume writing, and graduate school application advice to African students who want to study overseas. The Nigerian economy, however, is significantly impacted by the “Japa syndrome” phenomenon, especially with regard to its labour market, productivity, and social structures. Doctors, nurses, tech specialists, and academics are among the many highly qualified people that are departing the country. For instance, there were more than 13,000 Nigerian physicians working in the UK in 2022 alone, indicating a significant decline in intellectual capital.
FG decides to forbid international training for university lecturers.
Important industries like healthcare have been impacted by this migration; in Nigeria, the doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:5,000, which is higher than the WHO’s suggested ratio of 1:600. Remittances sent by Nigerians overseas provide as a financial buffer, but the loss of professionals affects Productivity at home. Remittances to Nigeria totalled $20.1 billion in 2022, or around 4.8% of the country’s GDP. The detrimental effects of migration are somewhat mitigated by these monies, which are frequently utilised for small business investments, education, and family assistance. Existing labour shortages are made worse by the departure of experienced individuals, especially in vital industries. This reduces overall efficiency and service delivery by adding to the workload of the remaining specialists.
However, stakeholders’ reactions to the Nigerian federal government’s decision to forbid international training for university lecturers were not entirely uniform. In order to save expenses and enhance infrastructure, Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa made this announcement during a conference, highlighting plans to invest in regional universities through simulation labs, research, and innovation. In addition, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) halted its overseas scholarship program because of the exorbitant fees and cases of students escaping. Some stakeholders, such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), see the initiative favourably if the money is used to improve nearby universities.
Exposure to other countries is needed for developing professions.
Nonetheless, they emphasise that in order to uphold academic standards, significant investments in research, infrastructure, and international partnerships are required. Critics such as Barr Carl Umegboro contend that training abroad offers crucial exposure to the world and real-world experience, particularly in specialised sectors that are not available in Nigeria. The risk of reducing Nigerian scholars’ ability to compete globally and the incapacity of local institutions to meet the demand for training are further worries. Parents and students emphasise how crucial exposure to other countries is for developing professions and keeping abreast of world events. Fostering global collaborations, providing scholarships for online education, and funding Innovation and research are some of the suggestions.
Significant funding has been set aside by the Nigerian government in the 2024 budget to upgrade the facilities at nearby universities. One of the top federal universities, for example, is the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which has a budget of ₦36.6 billion for facility improvements. The University of Calabar and Ahmadu Bello University, among other universities, have been given ₦29.2 billion and ₦29.5 billion, respectively. Projects including departmental buildings, research centres, and road networks are intended to be supported by these investments. Due to high rates of student absconding and rising exchange rates, the government contends that international training for university professors is no longer financially viable.
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Authorities suggest reinvesting savings into building up domestic research and education infrastructure because the cost of overseas training is 20 times higher than that of local alternatives. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other critics caution that Nigeria’s Educational System is ill-equipped to take in scholars who have been transferred elsewhere. Many of the specialised programs and research possibilities that are offered abroad are not available locally, according to stakeholders. They also warn that unless local universities are much improved, the approach may make Nigeria less competitive in the global academic arena.