Nigerians spent $609.5m on foreign education between January and August 2022, The PUNCH has learnt.
The figure is contained in the data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, calculated based on the information provided on the amount spent on educational services under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange.
In January 2022, the apex bank noted that a total of $60,202,730.84 was spent on foreign education, while noting that $69.9m was spent in February 2022.
In March 2022, there was a significant increase as the bank stated that $87.26m was spent.
Nigerians spent $609.5m on foreign education between January and August 2022, The PUNCH has learnt.
The figure is contained in the data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, calculated based on the information provided on the amount spent on educational services under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange.
In January 2022, the apex bank noted that a total of $60,202,730.84 was spent on foreign education, while noting that $69.9m was spent in February 2022.
In March 2022, there was a significant increase as the bank stated that $87.26m was spent.
Nigerians spent $609.5m on foreign education between January and August 2022, The PUNCH has learnt.
The figure is contained in the data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, calculated based on the information provided on the amount spent on educational services under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange.
In January 2022, the apex bank noted that a total of $60,202,730.84 was spent on foreign education, while noting that $69.9m was spent in February 2022.
In March 2022, there was a significant increase as the bank stated that $87.26m was spent.
The PUNCH reports that education in Nigeria, especially in the tertiary educational sector, has been marred by industrial actions by tertiary institution-based unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union.
Currently, academic activities in Nigerian universities and colleges of education are grounded due to issues bordering on lecturers’ welfare amongst others.
The data from the CBN revealed that Nigerians remitted more than $609.5m to foreign academic institutions in eight months without significant reciprocity in form of inflows from foreign sources to the local educational sector.
The PUNCH reports that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation observed that about 76,338 Nigerians were studying abroad as of 2018, the highest from an African country.
Commenting on the development, Programme Director of Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, stated, “The truth is that most people see ‘japa’ as a means of survival. People just want to leave the country and that is fine. The ASUU strike is close to eight months now.
THE PUNCH
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