Study in Nigeria

RocApply invites you to study in Nigeria, Africa’s largest country in population. Boasting of being one of the most urbanised countries in the continent, Nigeria is one of the places non-African people think of whenever Africa is mentioned. It comes as no doubt that due to this, favourable advantage, Nigeria is one of the most visited places in Africa both for tourist reasons and also for migration purposes.

Known as one of the major powers in the continent and the world at large, Nigeria is a coveted place to visit and experience the diversified culture of the country. International students will get the opportunity to gain a more global mindset about the world than when studying in their home country.

Nigeria has a total of 129 Universities registered with the Nigerian Universities Council. 39 of the universities are owned by state governments while 40 are run by the federal government. 50 of the universities are privately owned.

The Federal government recently gave licence to 9 new private universities to make the total 138 in the near future. The ushering in of the 21st century has also seen several Christian owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The country boasts of having the highest number of educated people in the continent

Nigeria is popular for producing excellent students in the medical field. This is because most of the states have specialised health institutions and are home to a university teaching hospital.

In 2012 the country launched a bone marrow donor program at the University of Nigeria to help people with leukaemia, lymphoma, or sickle cell disease. The country became the second African country to successfully carry out this surgery.

Not only that, but Nigeria was the first country to effectively eliminate the Ebola threat that was ravaging the West African region. Medicine has become the country’s signature field of study with Nigerian doctors spanning across the world in hospitals. Leading in innovative medical research, most tracing methods initiated in Nigeria have been used by countries such as the United States when Ebola was discovered.

Nigeria in the previous years has been affected by the brain drain as most of its graduates have migrated for greener pastures in first world countries. The government since 2010 has lost more than $2 billion in training doctors who have subsequently migrated to work in other countries. Although this is a disadvantage to the country’s progress, it is also a sign of how Nigeria is producing academically qualified professionals into the world.

Nigeria is not a wildlife tourism destination, however, the country boasts of a diversified cultural lifestyle impressing international people interested in multi ethical experiences. It is a perfect place to study for students that have anthropological ambitions.

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About Nigeria

Nigeria is a sovereign country located in West Africa. The Federal country is made up of 36 (mostly pre-colonial and ancient) states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Nigeria is bordered by Niger to the north, Cameroon to the east, Chad to the northeast, Benin to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the southern coast where the Gulf of Guinea is also located. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River that runs through the country.

Nigeria is home to close to half of West Africa’s population and is the most populated country in the continent of Africa and is 7th in the world. It is believed that 1 in every 6 Africans is Nigerian (17%). With about 206 million people in the country, Nigeria has one of the greatest youth populations (3rd from China and India) in the world.

More than 90 million of its total population is below the age of eighteen. Its total area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 square miles) makes it the world's 32nd-largest country. The city of Lagos is the largest in Africa, with a population of over 12 million residents in its urban area.

The main rivers, the Niger and the Benue flow across the country to converge and empty into the Niger Delta. This delta is one of the world's largest river deltas.

Morden day Nigeria goes back to 1914, with the unification of the British Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria and gained its independence on 1 October 1960.

Despite its independence, the country remains a part of the Commonwealth and for some time after independence retained the British monarch, Elizabeth II, as the nominal head of state and Queen of Nigeria. Only in 1963 did the nation form the Federal Republic, with Nnamdi Azikiwe as its first president. The Federal Republic structure is modelled after the United States, with the President attaining executive powers over the independent states.

However, the natives date back to as far as 1500 BC with the Nok civilisation in northern Nigeria. The people produced life-sized mud figures that are some of the earliest forms of known sculptures to exist in Sub-Saharan Africa.

European influence in the country dates to the 16th century with the Portuguese traders who dealt with people from Southern Nigeria at what is known as Lagos today. The name Lagos also goes back to those times of trade which are the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade.

Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and cultures, bringing forth a nation of rich ethnic diversity. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, which contribute to 70% of the population when combined.

Apart from the local natives, in the major cities and Niger Delta, there are small minorities of British, American, Indian, Chinese, white Zimbabwean, Cubans, Japanese, and Greek, Syrian and Lebanese immigrants. These populations also include immigrants from other West African or East African nations.

Following the emancipation of slaves in America, many former slaves came to reside in Nigeria. Many of these immigrants, sometimes called Saro (immigrants from Sierra Leone) and Amaro (ex-slaves from Brazil) are still found in the country.

521 languages have been spoken in Nigeria; nine of which are now extinct. As a way of unifying the different ethnicities, English is the official language of instruction and communication; it is widely used for education, business transactions, and official purposes. The major native languages represent the 3 ethnicities Igbo Yoruba and Hausa. Hausa is the most widely spoken language of the three main native languages spoken in Nigeria.

In some ethnic groups, the use of more than one language is common although ethnic groups prefer to communicate in their language. The most common modern yet unique language in Nigeria has to be Nigerian Pidgin English, popularly known as "Pidgin" or "Broken" (Broken English). This language is English infused with native languages varying according to regional influences on dialect and slang.

The 36 states are divided into 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and in some contexts, the states are aggregated into six geopolitical zones which are the North West, North East, North Central, South East, South-South, and South West.

Nigeria comprises of close to half Christians in the south and half Muslims in the north. The country has the fifth largest Muslim population in the world and the sixth-largest population in the world.

The constitution of Nigeria promotes freedom of religion, therefore incorporating a minor population of indigenous practices mainly carried out by the natives. As common in most parts of Africa where Islam or Christianity prevails, religious syncretism with the Traditional African religions is common throughout Nigeria.

Nigeria has a diverse landscape, with climates ranging from arid to humid equatorial Nigeria. The far south is a distinctly tropical rainforest climate and an important centre for biodiversity. It is home to the drill monkey, a species only found in this area. The areas in the south like Calabar are believed to have the world’s largest diversity of butterflies.

Not only is Nigeria a member of the Commonwealth of Nations but it is also a founding member of the African Union and has forged other pacts that include being members of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the ECOWAS, and OPEC.

Millions of Nigerians have immigrated to foreign countries in search of greener pastures, primarily to Europe, North America, and Australia. Nigerians have a great populace and usually constitute communities in foreign countries.

About Nigeria Economy

Nigeria boasts of the largest economy in Africa (having overtaken South Africa in 2014) and is the 24th largest economy in the world according to IMF. The country is worth +$500 billion nominal GDP. The African giant is a lower-middle-income economy with a gross national income per capita of between $1026 and $3985.

The mixed economy emerging market has an abundant supply of natural resources, viable communications, financial, transport, and the stock exchange sector. The restoration of democracy and the implementation of progressive economic reforms have set Nigeria on the path of manifesting full economic potential.

Nigeria became the first African country to pay off its $30 billion debt to the Paris Club in the process of making history. The “Giant of Africa" is considered to be an emerging market by the World Bank, a regional power on the African continent, a middle power in international affairs, and has also been identified as an emerging global power. It has also been listed among the "Next Eleven" economies that are set to become the biggest in the world.

Since the 90s, the Nigerian government has been privatizing state-run enterprises to reduce the dependence on government bailouts. This has led to investor confidence and foreign direct investment in the country. By the 21st century, very few enterprises remain under the government.

The Central Bank of Nigeria issues the national currency, the naira, and provides monetary policy to all commercial and merchant banks in the country. The Central Bank has branches in all the state capitals. The Nigerian stock exchange is the second-largest in Africa, Its manufacturing sector, the largest in the continent, producing a large portion of goods and services for the West African region.

Oil contributes more than 2/3 of the country’s revenue despite the precious mineral only contributing 9% to the GDP. The country produces 2.7% of the world’s total oil. Nigeria is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which it joined in 1971.

The country has the 10th largest proven reserves in the world, making it a key player in the international oil industry. The country is reported to have a total of 159 oil fields and 1,481 wells in operation, with most of the productive region of the nation being the coastal Niger Delta Basin in the Niger Delta.

Aside from oil, Nigeria also has a wide assortment of mineral resources which remain underexploited; these include natural gas, coal, bauxite, tantalite, gold, tin, iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead, and zinc. Despite huge deposits of these natural resources, the mining industry in Nigeria is still in its teething stage due to investment concentration on oil.

More than 30% of Nigerians are employed in the Agriculture sector. The sector used to be the principal foreign export earner for the country, however, due to its growing population and an urban migration boom, Nigeria now imports most of its agricultural needs. Nigeria’s biggest agricultural exports consist of rubber and cocoa beans to the United States, India, and the European Union.

The country’s main imports are machinery, manufactured goods, textiles, chemicals, and food, most of which come from its export partners and China. Cocoa is the leading non-oil foreign exchange earner, whilst rubber comes at second. Other major crops produced in Nigeria include beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, groundnuts, gum arabic, kolanut, maize, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains, rice, sorghum, soybeans and yams.

Internal trade is a common feat in Nigeria, with the southern and northern states trading staple foods with one another. The southern states supply plantains, cassava, kola nuts, and fruits whilst the northern states supply beans, onions, and livestock to the southern states.

The central region trades yams with both regions. Fishing has also assumed greater significance as a food source for the nation and most of the domestic catch comes from Lake Chad. Nigeria is popular for its open market stalls where most of these goods are sold.

It is estimated that between one-fifth and one-half of all Nigerians live off agricultural production. Most Nigerians are small-scale subsistence farmers and produce with only a little surplus for sale. The people derive additional income from farming a cash crop.

One of the biggest sources of foreign income for the country has to be remittances sent home by Nigerians in foreign countries. The country has most of its citizens living abroad and sending money to relatives back home.

The United States accounts for the biggest portion of official remittances followed by the United Kingdom, China, Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Egypt Libya, and South Africa. Remittances play a vital role in the country’s economy and foreign currency.

Not only is Nigeria a member of the OPEC, but it founded the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and ECOMOG, which are economic and military organizations, respectively. It remains an influential and strategic powerhouse of these organizations.

Although not as prominent as other African countries, tourism does exist in Nigeria. Tourism in the country is largely centered on events; this is attributed to the diversified ethnicity the country encompasses.

The rain forests, savannah, waterfalls, and other natural attractions are some of the reasons why tourists visit Nigeria. Abuja is also home to several parks and green areas making it an attractive tourist site. As one of the largest cities in the continent, Abuja is on its way to being to becoming a global city.

Why Study in Nigeria

Affordable Tuition Fees in Nigeria
Government Promotes Education
Education is at the core of the nation’s principles and values. The government promotes education from a basic stage until the tertiary level. Primary and secondary educations are free and compulsory in Nigeria. This ensures that everyone attains a basic degree of education and chooses to pursue tertiary education later on. Nigeria has to be one of the countries an international student has to consider studying in Africa. Not only is it the ideal African country for an African experience, but it is also ideal for academic purposes. In case you are contemplating studying in Nigeria, here are some reasons we thought would ground your consideration.
Affordable Accomodation in Nigeria
Social & Cultural Diversity
The social and cultural diversity of Nigeria goes unmatched. Nigeria is the most culturally diversified country in the continent. This makes it an ideal place for students hoping to see a bigger and broader world than their own. The people although diverse in ethnicity, share the same ideals in life such as respect and friendliness. The universities are a melting pot of cultural variation and will be a pull factor for students who are anthropological fanatics.
International Environment in Nigeria
Language of Instruction

The language of instruction in Nigeria is English. Because of the various languages that exist within the country’s borders, the official language of instruction is English. Although pidgin is the language mainly used amongst locals to communicate with one another, the language used at learning institutions and government institutions is English.

Nigeria has an impressive literacy rate, with 68% of the entire population being literate. This makes Nigeria one of the most literate countries in Africa and by no doubt due to its greater population has most graduates than any other country in the continent.

Great Weather in Nigeria
Foreign Students

Universities in Nigeria offer various programs ranging from medicine to fine art, to the convenience of both local and foreign students. This ensures that students get to follow their career paths in a manner that is appropriate to their life choices.

The oil boom of the 1970s allowed Nigeria to invest in tertiary education and enable it to reach every sub-region of the country. With over 129 institutions to choose from across the country, Nigeria provides more options not only academically but also on geographical location.

Scholarships in Nigeria

There are scholarship opportunities that are available for students who are considering studying in Nigeria. This is necessary if you cannot fund your studies personally. You are encouraged to apply for scholarship opportunities that might arise to suit your academic needs. There are several scholarship opportunities on the internet and students are advised to research more on their choices and options for funding.

Using the RocApply platform, we can help you discover scholarship opportunities that are out there. We would advise you to do a bit of research on other opportunities that are abundant online. Scholarship opportunities might vary according to the level of study, program or field of study and origin of the applicant. Here is a list of opportunities you might consider applying for if you fit the criteria. Please note that these are but a few opportunities and students are free to search for more options.

Finduddannelse.dk offers a scholarship of up to 5000 Euros to help the student cover for their fee. This scholarship opportunity is founded on the concept that through research and future job placement, students can positively shape the world of tomorrow. The scholarship is awarded annually and opens to people from anywhere in the world who want to study a master's program that is helping to make the world more sustainable.

Students must have applied (or willing to apply) to a master's program. Students must hold or be eligible to apply for a relevant study visa (if applicable). The students get to benefit from coverage of tuition fees which affords them more freedom to choose between universities and financial latitude. To apply for finduddannelse.dk sustainability scholarship students have to submit their application online via email.

Nigeria Student Visa

When studying in Nigeria, you will need to acquire a study visa once you are admitted to any university in the country. The Nigerian immigration services issues out what is referred to as the Subject To Regularization (STR) visa that covers a broad number of intentions such as Expatriate employment Missionary and Clergy work, Government Officials, and Research Fellowships.

You are encouraged to initiate the visa application process whilst you are still in your home country to avoid any complications. If you are having any problems regarding visa applications, we at RocApply can help you with it feel free to contact us.

Prospective students can apply online or via post. They need to complete the visa application form IMM22 and print two (2) copies of the completed form. Students are advised to make an online payment and print the payment receipt.

Please note that successful online payment is not the approval of an STR visa. Attach 2 passports sized photographs to completed Visa Form IMM22, along with the other requirements,