Long and short-term academic programs are available in Nigeria across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Nigeria. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Nigeria an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Nigeria and apply.
Scholarships in Nigeria
- Next-Generation Social Sciences in Africa: Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship
- ASRIC/UEMF Scholarships
- Mamman Marshal Foundation
- Shell Nigeria Student Scholarship Scheme
- Nile University of Nigeria Scholarships & Discounts
Fellowships in Nigeria
- IFRA Nigeria Research Fellows
- Teach for Nigeria Fellowship
- Humphrey Fellowship
- Nigerian University of Medical Research Fellowships
- Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
- The Nigerian Society of Engineers Online Fellowship
- Nigeria Computer Society Professional Fellowship
- Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship
Grants & Awards in Nigeria
- Federal Scholarship Board Nigeria Award Scholarship
- MacArthur Foundation Grantmaking in Nigeria
- Nigeria Creative Enterprise Support Program
- The Fleming Fund Nigeria: Country Grant
Summer Programs in Nigeria
- GISS Summer Camp
- New Hall International Summer Camp in Nigeria
- University of Nigeria Summer School Fiesta
Nigeria as an academic destination
Well, students usually are inclined to enter US, EU, Canadian or Asian universities for both post-studies and travel opportunities. However, we recommend you switch your attention to the studies in Nigeria, as it has a number of opportunities for international students. One of the first advantages is English is the country's official language, so you will have no language barriers. Secondly, the country's universities are ready to provide students with all degrees, like law, medicine, biology, agriculture, and many more. Yet, the tuition will be significantly more affordable than, let's say, in Asia or Europe.
There is another side of the coin for international students. Many wish to study in Nigeria to get rid of the boring everyday routine of similar countries. Nigeria, surely, resembles the rest of the world with many aspects of life. However, its African culture, traditions, and even the way everything looks around might be a powerful cultural trip for any student, making them leave their comfort zone and explore a new world.
As mentioned, English is the official language of the country. However, as the country is a mixture of various ethnic groups, there is a significant language diversity. The most popular spoken language in Nigeria is Hausa, followed by Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, Tiv, Kanuri, etc. This gives an excellent opportunity for linguists to appear in the epicenter of languages’ research. Even for nonprofessional purposes, communicating with locals will allow the students to learn more than one language simultaneously. There are many opportunities to learn Nigerian languages, even outside of the country. One of the options to study the most popular Hausa language is the Lextorah language school located in the city of Lagos.
Also, the country can catch the attention of those who are interested in the oil industry. It’s a developed sphere in Nigeria. By taking economic, finance, banking, and similar academic programs in the country, you can gain the opportunity to start a successful career either in Nigeria’s oil industry or in cooperation with it.
A probable issue that should be considered before moving to Nigeria is that it can take a long time to fly there and then fly back from time to time to the student's country of residence. Based on where the student's country of residence is, the air transportation expenses to and from Nigeria can also be expensive.
Universities of Nigeria
Maybe your common reaction would be that there are not internationally ranked universities in Nigeria. But there are, and not one or two of them. Times Higher Education lists six universities in its global university rankings. Explore them a bit detailed below and head to their websites to choose which of the internationally valued universities you are going to choose.
The University of Ibadan is the most popular in the country. It underwent a major transformation, and from the university, which offered only three programs, the university became a full-scale educational institution with 13 academic directions. In 1948, it was founded as an Ibadan college and was the first higher educational institution in the country. Later, in 1963, the University of Ibadan changed its name and scope of activities and became the university.
Lagos State University is the central educational institution in Lagos, one of the country's central cities. By studying and living here, you can concentrate on your subjects during the day and enjoy the rich nightlife of Lagos in the evenings.
There is also a University of Lagos, located in the same city as the above-mentioned one. The University of Lagos expands to 12 academic faculties and many research centers.
The other internationally ranked universities in the country include Covenant University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Obafemi Awolowo University.
Student expenses in Nigeria
How much you are going to spend on accommodation will largely depend on where you want to stay. Surely, university-provided or shared apartments come in as more affordable options. There is also interesting to use homestay in Nigeria, as it's a country with many ethnic groups and languages. The locals would most probably have everyday tips and lifestyles that will give you a unique experience. The tuition fees vary around 300,000-500,000 N, which is approximately 700-1,300$ at the moment of writing this article.
Research opportunities in Nigeria
Nigeria and the African continent are closer to nature compared to many other countries in the world. Therefore, research directions in natural sciences such as biology and directions that teach how to deal with soil are very popular.
The country especially pushes research in biomedical research. However, there is a need to consider that research in Nigeria has certain limitations. Mainly, the most cited research obstacles are not enough funding, the lack of special laboratory equipment, etc. Because of these vital components of any research activity, many of the Nigerian research efforts do not result in more favorable conditions.
Africa is atmospheric, with its life quality, lifestyle, traditions, colorful national clothing, etc. Nigeria, in its turn, one of the central countries in the continent, that hosts so many different ethnicities that you will get lost while trying to explore each of them. As an international student in Nigeria, you will have an unforgettable cultural experience, and we hope this section of ARMACAD will help you in that.