We have better universities in Nigeria than Ghana - Abike Dabiri

With the exodus of prospective university undergraduates from Nigeria to Ghana, the impression is that Nigerian universities would not be able to hold a candle to their Ghanaian counterparts.

However, during a visit by the House of Representatives Committee in Diaspora to the campuses of some Ghanaian institutions, it was discovered that they could only boast of one of two structures and a number of portakabins.

Much have been reported about the mass influx of Nigerian youths to various higher institutions in Ghana, majorly as a result of consistent strike actions, the difficulty in securing admission to their favourite institutions and the hostile learning environment such as hostel facilities and electricity.

These, over the years, have caused Nigeria to lose billions of naira to Ghana, a concern which was raised by the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in 2007.

Another concern, which has been raised recently, following different investigations, is the low standard, unaccredited and ‘portakabin’ higher institutions springing up by the day in Ghana; a development which many Nigerian youths, who travel in droves to Ghana to study, are falling victims to, due to lack of enlightenment.

In a recent visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, chaired by Honourable Abike Dabiri Erewa to inspect some of the schools Nigerian students attend in Ghana, and to have interaction with the Nigerian students and the school authorities; the team, which landed in Ghana on the 26th of January commenced the one day visit on 27th to a few universities such as Zenith University, Sikkim Manipal University, and University of Ghana, Legon; these three higher institutions in Accra are some of the most populated by Nigerians.

Meeting with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, the House Committee were briefed that about 3,000 Nigerians were studying in the university, and as well doing great in their performance. “It will be recalled that a Nigerian won overall best student in 2013 session, and we have cases of others who are doing well” he said.

Addressing some of the challenges put forward by the delegation as regards support for foreign students, specifically Nigerian students in cases of missing passports and other issues relating to Nigerians students, Professor Aryeetey, pledged to look into the peculiar challenges of Nigerian students as an institution. He, however, stated that as an institution, they had challenges of funding: “we depend on government for funding. Moreover, it is not a bad idea for Nigerian students to school in Ghana as is it often reported by Nigerian media; rather we look forward to a more cordial relationship with universities in Nigeria through exchange programmes.”

The second visit was paid to Zenith University where the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs complained strongly about the high level of cultism in the school and issues with Nigerian students who finished from the school and not being allowed to do their National Youth Service in Nigeria, due to the school’s non-recognition.

The school management however debunked having any history of cultism activities on campus, also informing the committee that there have been changes as Nigerians who graduate from the school were now being allowed to do their National Youth Service in Nigeria with an exception to students offering Diploma in Law, whose certificate from the school was not currently recognised in Nigeria with an order to them to continue their studies in Nigeria Law School.

In response to that, the chair of the Committee, Honourable Dabiri Erewa stated that the action must have been borne out of due diligence done by the Nigeria academic body, but in the same vein suggested that the school’s management should forward a letter through the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana to the Committee, which would be communicated to the authorities in the right quarters in Nigeria.

“It’s been educating, talking to the management of Zenith University” she said “and we are looking forward to a greater partnership” The meeting was followed by a brief inspection of the school hall which has capacity to contain 800 students out of the total 2, 500 students of the school, 7o per cent, of which, are Nigerians.

The last school visited by the delegation was Sikkim Manipal University; a one structured University with different corporate institutions operating within same structure, and was as well accredited by the national Accreditation Board, Ghana.

According to the registrar of the university, 99.9 per cent of their students are Nigerians. He went further to convince the delegates of the commitment of the management to their sound education and welfare.

The students, who could not hide their feelings at the visit of the delegates, also used the opportunity to discuss the level of discrimination they experienced from Ghanaians simply because they are Nigerians.

Some of them complained about the fact that health services, when provided to them were expensive simply because they were not on the health scheme programme, which necessitated most of them to travel back to Nigeria for treatment whenever they fell sick.

They also raised the issue of paying $120 annually for Non-Citizen identification card, after paying for resident permit and other immigration necessities. In her response, Honourable Abike Dabiri, advised the Nigerian students to understand that schooling outside Nigeria attracted its own challenges, which could be one of the things they were going through. But she frowned at the directive of the Ghanaian government on mandatory amounts required to be paid annually for foreigners identification card as well as resident permit, a development which she said was not imposed on Ghanaians in Nigeria.

In her words “first and foremost, it is the lack of good leadership that is responsible for mass influx of Nigerian youths to come and school in universities in Ghana, if not, there’s no reason for influx of Nigerian students to Ghana. We have better universities in Nigeria than what we have seen in Ghana.”

She said persistent strike actions had been the major challenge the Nigerian government had been trying to tackle, while she also urged the school management to provide health care facilities for foreign students.

In an interview with Honourable Abike Dabiri, she said, “we have gone round certain higher institutions in Ghana, because our primary focus as far as this visit is concerned, is about our students studying in Ghana. Based on our assessment, we realised we need to advise parents to try to see some of the schools they are sending their children to in Ghana. We were impressed in some areas, and we issued a note of caution in some of the schools. In fact, there are some schools we saw and they are not worth it.

However, we will be working with the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana; we will communicate with the Ministry of Education to try and look at these schools and advise sets of prospective youths coming to school here in Ghana.

“Nigerian students in Ghana also complained seriously about the compulsory payment of $120 for foreigners’ identification card, and another payment for resident permit renewable every year, which is a bit on the high side; and we appeal to the authorities to reason with our students.

“We also found out that accommodation rates are high, even higher than tuition fees of some of the students. So, these are the issues we are going to take up with our embassy.”

Speaking on what should be expected from the findings of the Committee, she said “on our own part, we will be talking to the Ministry of Education in Nigeria to liaise with the Embassy, and to look at the position of these schools with one structure and portakabins because these are the schools Nigerian parents are sending their children to.

“We are not asking them not to send their children to study abroad, but they should investigate themselves before sending them to a worse school compared to where they are running away from” she submitted.