FG TARGETS CAPITAL FLIGHT REDUCTION WITH UK UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DEAL
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Federal Government of Nigeria has stepped up efforts to expand access to globally recognised education, announcing plans to establish a local campus of Coventry University in Nigeria through a transnational education partnership.
The initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Education, is expected to enable Nigerian students to earn United Kingdom-accredited degrees without travelling abroad, a move officials say will reduce the cost of overseas education and curb capital flight.
Minister of Education Maruf Alausa disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that discussions are ongoing with key stakeholders in the UK.
Alausa, who is in the United Kingdom alongside Bola Tinubu, said the government is engaging university leaders, investors, and development partners to accelerate the project.
Maruf Alausa said the proposed campus will be situated in Alaro City, a rapidly growing education and economic hub.
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The institution is expected to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine, alongside Business and Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
He added that all degrees awarded will be equivalent to those obtained in the United Kingdom, noting that admissions could commence between the third and fourth quarters of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Maruf Alausa said the initiative would reduce the financial strain on Nigerian families while expanding access to quality education.
“We want Nigerian parents to have the comfort of their children studying at home while still receiving a world-class UK education,” he added.
Nigeria has recorded a steady rise in the number of students seeking education abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, driven by the perceived quality of foreign institutions and recurring disruptions within the domestic university system.
Official data from UK authorities indicate that tens of thousands of Nigerian students enrol in British universities each year, making Nigeria one of the leading sources of international students to the UK.
However, the depreciation of the naira in recent years has significantly raised the cost of tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for students studying overseas.
Education analysts attribute the trend to frequent strikes by university unions, inadequate infrastructure, and limited admission capacity in Nigerian tertiary institutions, factors that continue to push families to consider foreign options.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has also previously highlighted the high demand for foreign exchange for education-related expenses as a factor exerting pressure on the country’s external reserves.
The proposed campus of Coventry University is part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s broader push to promote Transnational Education, a model that enables foreign institutions to offer their programmes within host countries.
Officials say the approach will help retain talent, curb brain drain, and strengthen local capacity in key sectors such as technology, healthcare, and engineering.
The partnership is being supported by the United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade, highlighting deepening cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in education and skills development.
Experts note that similar initiatives in countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia have successfully attracted international universities, helping to position those nations as regional education hubs.
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