The United Kingdom Home Office published its Immigration statistics about two months ago. The data revealed that as of the end of June 2022, 65,929 Nigerians were granted sponsored study visas (commonly known as student visas). This makes Nigerian students the third-largest foreign student group in the UK and is the highest single figure since June 2019.
Four years ago, the numbers were lower. The trend of data on study visas from 2019 reveals a 682% increase in just 4 years, clearly indicating a rapid rise in the number of Nigerians, especially the young and middle-aged group, leaving the country for better education and opportunities abroad.
Although analysis of the 4-year data obtained from the UK Home Office shows a yearly increase in the number of Nigerians granted student visas to the UK, the June 2022 figure stands as the highest in the period under review.
In the year ending 2019, 8,384 Nigerians were granted student visas. The following year, the number increased to 9,066 indicating 8.13%. In 2021 the numbers grew, and the percentage increase became 125.31%, a massive increase which repeated again in 2022.
As of June this year, the number of student visas given to Nigerians stands at 65,929, the highest number and the largest percentage increase the country has recorded.
Already, the country is suffering the impacts of its many professionals migrating to other countries, particularly in the health sector. Dataphyte had reported earlier that 2,946 trained Nigerian nurses left for the UK between June 2021 and June of this year alone, increasing the total number of trained Nigerian nurses on the UK permanent register to 7,256 just in the last five years. Also, 12,595 Nigerians immigrated to Canada in just the space of 12 months.
Brain drain is not a new phenomenon for Africa as a whole and Nigeria specifically, but this new wave of “japa” is unprecedented, a wave which, if continued, may leave Nigeria drained of its young population who represent the future.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, Nigerians left in their droves majorly to the UK and the United States largely because of dictatorial leadership (military regime) and the country’s economic situation then. After years of military rule, Nigeria transitioned to civilian rule in 1999 and has been operating under a democratic system of government ever since.
However, the majority of the economic issues cited as one of the causes of the mass emigration in the early days have not changed, and more citizens are leaving the country’s borders in search of a better life.
Among other things, the deplorable socioeconomic situation in Nigeria has frequently been cited as a key factor in the yearly rise in the number of persons leaving the country via different routes.
Bunmi Bailey identified some of these issues to include the country’s high poverty rate, unemployment, poor human capital development, insecurity, and poor education, among others, as some of the many reasons Nigerians, particularly the young population, are fleeing the country.
Some Nigerians who left for the UK shared the expert’s position. Jessica, a 24-year-old Nigerian who got her visa and left for the UK a few weeks ago, said that one of the many reasons she chose the UK for her graduate study is because of the opportunities available at the completion of her programme, which she noted are scarce in Nigeria.
“Yes, I know they say the grass is not always greener outside, but I am certain that with my current skills and the knowledge I will acquire in the course of my studies, I will be able to land myself a job in the UK, which is something I may not be able to say with certainty about Nigeria. I mean, I was here [referring to Nigeria] for years, and I experienced the difficulty in getting a job, not only me but my siblings as well.”
Jessica’s story is the reality of many Nigerians who, due to a lack of employment opportunities, are doing everything they can to cross the border. The UK’s post-study work visa has made the country a desirable study destination for Nigerians fleeing the high unemployment rate sitting at a menacing 33.3%.
Although James’ story is different from Jessica’s, he still cited Nigeria’s dire situation as the reason he quit his job and moved to the UK last year.
According to him, he was working in a reputable private organisation in Lagos but resigned to pursue a graduate study in the UK with the hope of staying back after his study. He said that he is now at a point where he is considering the future he wants to give his children, and Nigeria is not where he wants them to begin, especially given the poor education, rising insecurity, and difficult economic conditions the average Nigerian faces.
Wale, a software engineer who left Nigeria 3 years ago, also attributed his decision to quality education, the opportunities and exposure which are available to his future children abroad but scarce at home.
Although he said he left for the UK last year mainly for career progression, Desmond admitted that the possibility of a better life sealed the decision for him. “The primary reason I left Nigeria for the UK last year was because of career progression. However, I must say that there were also secondary reasons which included access to job opportunities, residing for a better life, access to basic amenities, security, healthcare, and many others.
This is the reality for many, too; those who haven’t travelled yet are aspiring to do so despite the high costs of a UK education.
“I have been here for over a year now, and anytime I call home [referring to his family in Nigeria], it’s like they are thankful that I found my way here due to the present state of the nation,” Desmond added.
The reasons stated by these “japarians” are not exaggerated.
For instance, students at Nigeria’s public universities have been on strike for almost seven months with no hope for resumption. This is in addition to the many other myriads of challenges public institutions face that are impacting the quality of education.
The issue of insecurity in the country, increasing unemployment, and poverty are also well known, all posing great challenges to Nigerians, especially the youth, thus pushing them to seek greener pastures outside.
Ayantola Alayande, a policy analyst shared that during economic downturns, individuals often emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad, which is precisely what is happening in Nigeria. He added that it is, however, not peculiar to Nigeria alone, that globally, when there is an economic slump in a country, people tend to leave in search of better opportunities.
He stressed that, in addition to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, there is equally a demand from the UK, which may also be responsible for the high number of visas granted as of June this year.
“The figures in 2019 and 2020 don’t necessarily mean Nigerians weren’t applying in their huge numbers then; it might just mean more visa turndowns. There now seems to be a higher level of visa issuance, which could be attributed to Brexit (Britain’s exit from the European Union), pushing the UK to expand its student visa nets in order to recruit more professionals,” Ayantola added.
Toyyib Adelodun, an immigration consultant, also shared this view, stating that the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union is making them scout for talent to grow their economy. On January 31, 2020, the UK formally left the EU following a public vote that was held in June 2016.
Speaking about the long-term effects of the massive migration of Nigerians from the nation, Ayantola stated that it would result in a shortage of skilled labour.
“In my opinion, the most significant negative impact is the brain drain. A reduced population might actually be an advantage in the short term — in that more jobs are opened up, to be filled by hitherto unemployed Nigerians, but the type of labour being reduced (skill workers) is the problem in the long run”, Ayantola said.