Month: May 2025

The Nation Newspaper

Amid tightening immigration policies, the U.S. State Department recently suspended student visa processing, following moves by the Trump administration to cut education funding and limit international student enrollment.

This has created uncertainty for many aspiring students who once viewed the U.S. as the default destination for higher education.

With visa backlogs, stricter requirements, and limited post-study opportunities, the appeal of studying in the U.S. has declined for some.

As a result, students are increasingly looking beyond the United States to countries that offer world-class education and a more welcoming, efficient visa process.

Here are the top student destinations international students can consider:

1. Germany
   Germany has become a hotspot for international students, and it’s easy to see why. Public universities in Germany often don’t charge tuition fees, even for non-EU students. But beyond that, the student visa process is refreshingly simple. When applying for a German student visa, you’re legally required to demonstrate that you have enough financial resources to support yourself, typically 11,904 Euros for each academic year.

Once you’ve been accepted into a German university, getting your visa is a fairly straightforward process.

2. New Zealand
   The student visa process in New Zealand is known for being user-friendly and relatively quick. The country has a strong education system and is especially attractive for students interested in environmental sciences, agriculture, and business.

The application process is mostly online, and decisions are typically made within a few weeks. What’s more, students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during holidays. Many graduates also qualify for a post-study work visa, giving them time to explore career opportunities in the country.

Moreover, you’ll only need a student visa if your study program lasts longer than three months. For courses under three months, a standard visitor visa is usually sufficient.

 3. Ireland
If you’re planning to study in Ireland for more than 90 days, you’ll need a student visa—but don’t worry, the process is refreshingly efficient. Most applications are processed within four to eight weeks.

Ireland’s reputation for high-quality education, especially in fields like tech, pharmaceuticals, and literature, makes it a favourable destination among students. The country also allows international students to work part-time during their studies and offers a two-year stay-back option after graduation for postgraduate students.

4. Australia

The student visa process in Australia is highly organised and mostly online. If you meet the basic requirements (like admission to a recognised institution and proof of funds), approval is often swift.

Australia’s visa also includes the right to work 24 hours per week, as of recent updates, which is slightly more generous than many countries. Graduates can stay between two and four years, depending on their level of study and location, making it an attractive place to launch a career.

5. France
   The French student visa, especially for non-EU students, is surprisingly straightforward. Once you’re accepted into a program, the visa process typically involves filling out an application, proving your means of support, and showing health insurance coverage. It approximately takes 15 to 30 days for the visa to get approved.

France also offers students the ability to work part-time and provides up to a one-year temporary residency permit post-graduation to look for work. Many courses are now offered in English, opening the doors even wider for international students.

6. Netherlands
   The Netherlands has embraced a digital-first approach to visas, making the process efficient and accessible. Once admitted to a Dutch university, your institution usually handles most of the visa logistics on your behalf, which takes a huge burden off your shoulders.

The country also allows international students to work part-time and provides a one-year Orientation Year Visa after graduation, giving you time to find a job or start a business. The Dutch are also known for speaking English, which adds another layer of ease for students to settle in.

7. Norway
   Though not in the EU, Norway offers a visa process that’s both clear and generous. Tuition at public universities is free, even for international students, and while the cost of living is high, the visa requirements are not overly complicated.

You’ll need proof of admission, housing, and sufficient funds, but the steps are well-documented and mostly handled online. Once in Norway, you can work part-time and even stay after graduation if you find a job related to your field of study. It’s a high-quality education system in one of the safest and most scenic countries in the world.

Vanguard News

France has unveiled an updated list of more than 80 jobs now open to foreign nationals — including Nigerians — under a streamlined immigration process designed to attract skilled workers and regularize undocumented migrants already contributing to the economy.

The revised framework simplifies the legalization process for thousands of undocumented workers in France, while also making it easier for qualified professionals from abroad to obtain legal residency and employment.

According to data from EURES, foreign nationals from non-EU countries, including Nigeria, made up 10.5 percent of France’s active workforce in 2023. Yet, a report from French think tank Terra Nova forecasts that between 250,000 and 310,000 foreign workers will be needed by 2025 to meet growing labor market demands.

Despite welcoming more than 331,000 immigrants in 2022, France still faces major workforce shortages across various sectors, a challenge compounded by an aging population and low birth rates.

As a result, policymakers now view labor migration as a necessary tool for sustaining the country’s economic growth.

Simplified Pathway for Legal Status
The updated shortage occupation list benefits both new foreign applicants and undocumented workers already employed in eligible fields.

By offering a fast-tracked work permit process, the government aims to help these individuals transition from irregular to legal employment, enabling quicker access to residency permits and legal protections.

Key sectors targeted include:

Construction and Building
Engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, welders, masons, site supervisors
Hospitality and Food Services
Chefs, bakers, hotel staff, restaurant servers, butchers, pastry chefs, fishmongers
Healthcare and Home Support
Nurses, physiotherapists, doctors, caregivers, early childhood educators, veterinary surgeons
Agriculture and Forestry
Farm workers, horticulturalists, vineyard workers, forestry specialists, livestock farmers
Manufacturing and Industry
Industrial mechanics, machine operators, metal workers, maintenance technicians, sheet metal fabricators
Transport and Logistics
HGV and bus drivers, logistics operators, packaging staff, tram drivers
IT and Digital Technology
Software developers, cybersecurity experts, data analysts, AI professionals, IT project managers, network engineers
Technical and Skilled Trades
Refrigeration technicians, automotive repairers, lift installers, cement plant technicians, glass processors.

The Federal Government has introduced specialised Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, other newly introduced degree programmes included cybersecurity, software engineering, and networking.

Assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office, Bugaje said the move is a major stride toward aligning Nigeria’s education system with global technological trends.

According to him, the move is also part of a broader plan to deepen the country’s engagement with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and equip young Nigerians with the digital skills needed for the modern economy.

“We have unbundled the traditional HND programmes into more specific skill areas.

“This is already being implemented, and, under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), we are offering even more specialised training modules in these areas,” he said.

Bugaje maintained that the expansion into AI and emerging technologies was not limited to academic offerings, explaining that the digital tools were now integrated into the governance and oversight of technical institutions.

“For example, a digital accreditation platform powered by AI has been deployed to monitor compliance with academic standards, identify faculty duplications, and curb malpractices.

“If a lecturer appears on multiple polytechnic websites, the AI system will flag it. This will help us maintain integrity in the accreditation process,” Bugaje said.

Under the new system, he said, the institutions were required to upload detailed information about their facilities, equipment, and faculty onto a centralised digital platform.

“With this, we no longer need to send teams physically for most accreditations.

“This saves cost, reduces risk, and curbs manipulation of the process,” he said.

He further said that institutions in remote rural areas without reliable internet infrastructure were given a temporary alternative.

Bugaje said institutions in remote areas would be assessed by accredited vendors who would submit reports to the NBTE for approval or rejection of programmes.

He further said that the digital shift in accreditation was guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which outlined specific requirements for each National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, including facilities, faculty qualifications, and equipment.

He said the digital accreditation initiative, alongside the introduction of advanced technology programmes, was designed to make Nigerian polytechnics more relevant in a rapidly changing world.

He said the accreditation would also help the country to harness technology to boost its GDP, much like Southeast Asian nations had done.

“Nigeria has no choice but to embed technology in education and economic development.

“This is how we can unlock growth and prosperity in the digital age,” he emphasised. (NAN)

The Federal Government has inaugurated a digital village pilot project providing free internet access to the rural community of Ibwa 2, Isuanin Kura, Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory, in a bid to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed that over 20 million Nigerians remain without any form of telecommunication access.

“If you bring out your phone in many communities, you will see there is no network at all. This is costing the country significantly because people cannot access financial services, medical care cannot be supported remotely, and education is suffering,” he said.

Tijani further stressed the often-overlooked security implications of poor connectivity, saying, “Those locations that are not covered become difficult to govern. The President has mandated an investment in about 7,000 telecom towers nationwide.

What we are doing here today is the first pilot of that plan.”

Ibwa 2 community, home to over 12,000 people, is among the first to benefit from this initiative, alongside neighbouring areas with no telecommunications whatsoever. According to the minister, the project goes beyond just enabling phone calls.

“We are using the same equipment to connect the hospital here. Huawei has donated equipment that allows medical practitioners in this facility to consult doctors worldwide. We just witnessed the community chief speak with a doctor in Abuja via this technology,” he said.

Education is also being transformed through remote teaching. “At the local school, where there are insufficient teachers, a science teacher from Lagos will now teach the children remotely through this equipment,” Tijani added.

Highlighting the community-wide access, he said, “There is community Wi-Fi here that anyone can connect to, enabling them to access global opportunities.”

The minister emphasised the government’s commitment to inclusivity: “Where you live should not determine whether you have access. Over 80 per cent of unconnected communities are in the North, so this project prioritises those areas while balancing connectivity nationwide to bring nearly all Nigerians online.”

He acknowledged the collaboration with top industry players, notably Huawei. “We are working with the best companies to manage these infrastructures sustainably,” Tijani said.

To promote affordability, the ministry, alongside Hauwei, donated 125 mobile phones to the community chief.

“These phones cost about $25 each and are among the cheapest smartphones globally. We aim to test and introduce affordable devices widely, and also explore local manufacturing options,” the minister revealed.

The Ibwa 2 pilot represents a significant step towards Nigeria’s digital inclusion and the government’s broader goal of integrating all citizens into the digital economy.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Huawei Nigeria Enterprise, Terrence Wu, described the partnership as a groundbreaking effort rooted in innovation and collaboration.

He outlined the project’s three core pillars—mobile connectivity, digital education, and accessible health services—as essential to fostering inclusive and resilient communities.

Wu stressed that Huawei’s technology, combined with Globacom’s infrastructure and the ministry’s leadership, would deliver high-speed networks and telemedicine to underserved areas.

He said the initiative was a commitment to empower rural Nigerians with access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.

Globacom’s Head of Division for North West, Mr Kazeem Kaka, described the launch of the Nigerian National Digital Village as a landmark moment in the country’s digital transformation.

He praised the collaboration between the Ministry of Communications, Huawei, and Globacom for extending connectivity to underserved communities, calling it a “bold announcement towards an inclusive digital future.”

Kaka highlighted the critical role of affordable mobile phones and internet access in empowering Nigerians with opportunities in education, healthcare, and commerce.

He urged the residents of the Ibwa 2 community to protect the infrastructure and fully utilise the new digital resources to build a prosperous future.

The minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, Bosun Tijani, says that the federal government is set to create 7,000 digital hospitals for rural communities.

Mr Tijani disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when he unveiled a digital hospital and school in Ibwa 2 community, situated at Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The minister hinted that president Bola Tinubu had directed that the ministry should provide the unserved communities with 7,000 digital healthcare facilities.

He noted that there were about 20 million rural dwellers who do not have access to benefit from such facilities.

“Nigeria has decided to invest 7,000 of these equipment in healthcare.

“There are about 20 million people who cannot benefit from what we that live in the city or those who are nearer to the city are currently enjoying.

“Out of that 20 million people over 80 per cent of them are from the northern part of Nigeria.

“This is why Mr President has demanded that we must put money into ensuring that this opportunity is not only available to those in the urban area but every part of the north must be covered with this equipment.

“So that we can give this opportunity to our people regardless of where they find themselves.”

He said that the project, in collaboration with Globacom Nigeria and Huawei Technologies Nigeria, would provide different digital services to over 12,000 residents of the community, and those within its environs.

He explained that the 7,000 digital hospitals and schools would provide services for 80 per cent of the 20 million unserved who were from northern states.

The minister in test running the digital facilities had online conversations with a medical doctor in Abuja and a teacher in Lagos.

He assured that the 7,000 projects would be delivered by the end of the year.

According to him, 125 smart phones had been provided to the community through the village head to be used for services provided by the facility with free WiFi.

Earlier, the managing director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Terrens Wu, expressed delight over the collaboration, saying that it would lead to rural transformation and economic empowerment of rural dwellers.

Mr Wu was optimistic that the project  would deepen financial inclusion and boost economic activities.

He also expressed the commitment of Huawei to rural and urban transformation in Nigeria.

“Huawei has the technology to shape the ways rural areas are carried along in the plan for digital transformation and literacy in the country,” he said. 

The manager, Globacom Nigeria Northern Region, Kassim Kaka, emphasised the company’s commitment to ventures that would improve digital literacy and deepen inclusion in the country.

The village head of Ibwa 2 Community, Abubakar Bamaiyi, appreciated the government for the projects, saying in the past, government officials would visit the community and make promises, but nothing would follow.

“In the past government officials would come and make promises but they end up doing nothing. But this time around you people came and within this short period you have delivered.

“Our children can even learn from their beds. And we can access medical care through this digital hospital.

“The project has revived the peoples confidence in the present administration, and the villagers will take advantage of the projects to improve their living standards and businesses,” he said. 

(NAN)

The Federal Government has announced a monthly stipends of N45,000 for students in technical colleges across Nigeria.

This move was said to be part of a plan to bring new life to Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Idris Bugaje, shared this in an interview in Abuja while speaking on the second year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Wednesday.

Bugaje said the plan was part of a bigger effort to improve the TVET system and make it more appealing than regular university education.

He explained that the goal was to grow the TVET sector fast and get more students to enrol in technical colleges.

He added that the government will not only pay the monthly stipend but will also handle other costs.

Bugaje said, “The government will pay school fees, give money to industry-based supervisors (called master class instructors), and cover the cost of skill certification.

“With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualifications, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria.

“This way, the whole sector is being repositioned. We are at the moment facing what you may call either a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET.”

He noted that TVET used to be well-supported in Nigeria in the past.

“During colonial days and the early part of our independence, TVET had received attention. But, since the 1980s, we have been going down the drain. That is why the number of technical colleges has dropped, from 129 at the moment, compared to 15,000 senior secondary schools in Nigeria,” he said.

Bugaje expressed hope that this new effort will turn things around.

He revealed that Tinubu’s government has set aside N120 billion to support students under this new TVET plan.

“This money will be given through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

“The N45,000 is not a loan, but a grant. Students who enjoy this are not going to pay back. We want to encourage more people to enrol in technical education,” he said.

To keep the programme running, Bugaje said the Minister of Education was working on a bill.

The bill aims to create a National Skills Fund under the new Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework.

“This was an idea we have been talking about in the past years, but the new minister has taken it up.

“The bill shall soon be presented in the National Assembly to establish the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework and under it, the National Skills Fund.

“The National Skills Fund will continue to fund TVET institutions, not only those in government colleges but also those in the private sector,” he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new governing council members for three federal universities.

The institutions include the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU).

In February, Tinubu had dissolved the governing council of UniAbuja and removed Aisha Maikudi as vice-chancellor over concerns about her eligibility for the position.

In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu named four new members for UniAbuja’s governing council.

They are Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan (south-south), Adedeji Adefuye (south-west), Sarki Abba Abdulkadir (north-west), and Aminu Mohammed Dukku (north-east).

At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the newly appointed council members are Ogbonna Eugene Odo (south-east) and Muhammad Inuwa Tahir, mni (north-west).

For Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, the new members are Nkem Okeke (south-east), Ofoke Chukwuma Charles Ugbala (south-east), Dame Amina Patrick Yakowa (north-west), and Nojeeb Oriola Agunbiade (south-west).

The appointments, Onanuga said, are part of ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to reposition the nation’s tertiary education sector.

International students applying to study in the United States may have their social media examined following a new directive from the Donald Trump-led administration.

POLITICO reported the changes after obtaining a cable signed on Tuesday.

In preparation for such required vetting, the administration is ordering US embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews for such student visa applicants.

The decision could affect many international students from Africa and other regions—especially Nigerians—who choose the US for academic opportunities and also impact many universities who rely heavily on foreign students to boost their revenue.

The cable was signed by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable states.

“Septel” is state department shorthand for “separate telegram”.

The increased crackdown comes weeks after dozens of foreign students had their visas revoked without reason.

The Trump administration had earlier imposed some social media screening requirements that were largely targeted at returning students who may have participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The new directive does not spell out clear conditions for the social media screening but re-echoes previous executive orders that are aimed at keeping out terrorists and battling antisemitism.

Some of the rules have been heavily applied to Harvard University, which is currently embroiled in a funding row with the US government.

Punch Newspaper

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has ruled out the possibility of candidates using their earlier Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination scores in place of results from the recent resit.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, told The PUNCH on Monday that the initial results have been voided, and only the resit scores will be recognised.

“You can’t have two results. One must be withdrawn – that means the old result has been withdrawn,” Benjamin said.

Some parents of candidates who participated in the resit had inundated The PUNCH with inquiries on Monday noting that their wards/children scored higher in the initial exams than the resit.

“My daughter scored over 200 in the initial exam and scored lesser than 200 in the resit. Can she use the result of the initial exam which is better than this last one?” one of the parents inquired.

JAMB released the resit UTME results on Sunday.

The resit followed widespread outcry over technical and human errors that marred the original examination, prompting the board to conduct another exam for 379,000 affected candidates in Lagos and Southeast states.

The fresh results showed marked improvement as about 200,000 more candidates crossed the 200 mark, raising the total number of those who scored 200 and above to 565,988 — representing 29.3 per cent of the 1.9 million candidates who sat the exam.

In comparison, only 439,961 (24 per cent) crossed the same mark in 2024, while 355,689 (23.36 per cent) did so in 2023.

JAMB noted that although the results reflect an overall improvement, the majority — 1,365,479 candidates, or 70.7 per cent — still scored below 200.

This marks a slight improvement from the initial result released on May 9, 2025, where over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200.

The board stated that the 2025 exercise saw a record participation of 1,931,467 candidates — the highest since the Computer-Based Test format was introduced in 2013.

In a case of different strokes for different folks, some candidates, who participated in the resit, had taken to X to share testimonies of their new scores in the examination.

Chief Executive Officer, of Educare, Alex Onyia shared testimonies of candidates on his X.

One of them read, “From 155 to 341. This brings me so much joy I have so many of this type of result on my DM right now.”

A breakdown of high scorers showed that 117,373 candidates (6.08 per cent) scored 250 and above in 2025, up from 77,070 (4.18 per cent) in 2024 and 56,736 (3.73 per cent) in 2023.

Similarly, 8,401 candidates (0.46 per cent) scored 300 and above in 2025 — the highest in recent years — compared to 5,318 (0.35 per cent) in 2023 and just 724 (0.06 per cent) in 2021.

JAMB maintained that the new results reflect a fairer assessment of candidates’ performance after correcting initial lapses.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has said the anti-graft agency had recovered some money from crypto bridge exchange (CBEX), a failed digital investment and trading platform.

Olukoyede stated this during an interview on a national television programme, adding that, the commission had made some arrests in connection with the CBEX fraud.

The EFCC chairman said the commission had made significant progress in its investigation.

“We have gone far with CBEX. We have been able to recover a reasonable amount of money. We have gone far. We have made a reasonable arrest.

“We are not going to give out much because we don’t want the process to be disrupted. We are still after quite a number of people we have declared wanted,” he said.

Olukoyede explained that investors may not get their money back in dollars because of the difficult process in converting the money, which was traded in cryptocurrency.

“Even though in the crypto wallet, the same way the money was taken from them. There is no way you will get them in dollars. There is no way you get the dollars in cash without necessarily going through the same process,” he said.

The EFCC chairman stressed that the investigation had been challenging because the fraudsters used “non-custodial wallets,” which means there was no identity attached to the accounts, making it harder to trace the criminals.

“We are still investigating a lot of wallets and the wallets they created are called non-custodian wallets. In other words, no KYC. So, you can’t trace it to anybody,” Olukoyede said.

“So, from the noncustodial wallet, they moved it to some wallets in Europe, Eastern Europe, particularly Cambodia, and from there, they dispersed the money. We have been able to block some of these wallets where money has not been dispersed.

“That is to the extent that we have gone. I even learnt that there are still some of these perpetrators, and Nigerians are still falling victim. I believe people should learn from this.”