Nigeria is the powerhouse of West Africa and one of the leading economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Foreign universities and colleges could become central to helping unlock its huge economic potential. Already one of the top ten sources of international students for the UK, Nigeria could become as important as India in the burgeoning multi-billion dollar global education market. Institutions from the UK and elsewhere stand to benefit from the country's largely untapped intellectual resources, if they are ready to create courses designed to help Nigerian students begin professional careers as soon as they graduate.
This session will address the challenges facing Nigeria education. Professor Okojie will argue that if the investment in student mobility were matched by a commitment from foreign institutions to long-term partnerships with Nigerian universities, then this could unlock huge potential for educational and economic growth in the region. Institutions, however, must be prepared to forge mutually beneficial partnerships and help develop vocational courses that lead to direct employment.
Professor Alos is Vice-Chancellor of the Pan-African University and former Rector of the Lagos Business School (LBS), and will present a case study from a LBS perspective. LBS is recognised as the first African institution offering international-class education in a stable, continuous way, and in 2002, became the first school of the Pan-African University.