Sometime ago Nigeria's former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, revealed astounding statistics on the number of Nigerian students studying in Ghana - over 70,000!
Dying, Yet Paying: 75,000 Nigerians Studying In Ghana Spend Over N160bn Annually
Despite alleged discrimination, Nigerian students have made Ghana the Holy Grail, probably because of the falling standards in the Nigerian educational system.
But that is nothing when you realise that these students inadvertently inject more than $1bn (over N160bn) into the Ghanaian economy annually.
This N160 billion naira figure is more than Nigeria's entire budget for all the public Universities in the country in 2011.
“Although there are no comprehensive data on the number of Nigerian students abroad, recent data have shown that there are about 71,000 Nigerian students in Ghana paying about US$1 billion annually as tuition fees and upkeep, as against the annual budget of US$751 million for all federal universities.
“In other words, the money spent by Nigerian students studying in Ghana with a better organised system is more than the annual budget of all federal universities in the country,” Sanusi said.
All these statistics have not changed over the years.
In fact, some people have argued that the number of Nigerian students in Ghana increasing,, meaning that more money is being spent.
Now, we are all aware of the recent murder of Mr. Godwin Ayogu, a 19-year-old Nigerian studying at the University of Cape Coast until his death. There was also the death of two Nigerian students, who were said to have accidentally drowned while on an excursion. Also, there is the story of a pupil that died in Tema, in bizarre circumstances.
There are also reports of unfair treatment ,meted out to Nigerians, students inclusive, in the 'brother' country.
Why then do Nigerians still rush to Ghana?
The answer had long been provided by many educationists in Nigeria.
In 2012, the Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Dr. Wale Babalakin said the reason why we have over 75,000 Nigerian students studying in Ghanaian Universities the Nigerian government is not making Nigerian universities friendly enough.
“Nigerian government should put measure in place to attract foreign students to Nigerian universities," he said.
At the time, he also suggested that universities be allowed to generate their own revenues.
If we generate substantial money within the university and those monies are spent with great discretion, you will be alarmed at how far it will go and the catalytic effect of development," Babalakin argued.
More recently, in July 31, 2013 Prof. Omololu Soyombo, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, on also lamented the high number of Nigerian students and amount spent on tuition in Ghana.
"Ghana does not have more resources than Nigeria. It is so sad because they once depended on Nigeria, but now, we seem to have more hope in their educational system," he said in a NAN report.
"It is disheartening that such huge amount is leaking from Nigeria to Ghana as our contribution serves as a major source of their income, while our system suffers back at home."
With academic unions embarking on incessant strikes, government spending less on education while facilities deteriorating without repairs and several candidates sit for entry examinations into higher institutions but fail to secure admission.
It is no wonder that many Nigerians would rather pay high fees outside the country.
The ball then is in the government's hand.
Meanwhile Ghana is reaping from our inaction.
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