9,000 Nigerian Students Studying in Canada - Envoy

No fewer than 9,000 Nigerian students are currently studying in Canadian
institutions, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Perry Calderwood,
announced on Tuesday.
Calderwood, who made the disclosure at the opening of the 12th Canadian
Education Fair in Abuja, said that Nigeria ranked among countries with highest
number of students in Canada.
According to him, Canada has become an attractive destination for students
from around the world because of high quality education and a wide range of
academic, professional and technical training.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 41 Canadian
institutions are participating in the two-day fair, holding at Sheraton Hotels and
Towers.
“Canada has thriving relations with Nigeria and one of our most interesting
areas of engagement is the education sector.
“Figures from Canada’s immigration authorities show that in 2014, over 8,600
Nigerians were studying in Canada.
“These numbers have grown rapidly from just 800 in 2002.

“Nigeria represents the 8th largest source of foreign students and their presence
enriches Canadian educational institutions and society.
“Nigerian students in Canada are worthy ambassadors of their country; each of
them represents a new link between the two countries,” he said.
The envoy said the high commission was committed to facilitating increased
educational partnership in joint research, curriculum development and vocational
training.
According to him, tuition and cost of living in Canada are competitive in
comparison to other potential destinations.
Calderwood said that foreign students integrated easily into the society as
Canada was a multi-cultural society made up mostly of immigrants from
around the world.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folashade
Yemi-Esan, said she was delighted that a large number of Nigerian students
were studying in Canada.
Represented by the Director of Education Support Services in the ministry, Mrs
Justina Ibe, Yemi-Esan said that in the age of globalisation, education and
knowledge were key drivers of the global economy.
She said that emphasis should be laid on acquiring technical education to build
a skilled manpower for economic growth.
“May I use this opportunity to stress the importance of strengthening skills
development for employability, with particular reference to technical and
vocational education.
“Technical education contributes to achieving sustainable development, poverty
alleviation and greater equity and justice,” she said.
The permanent secretary said she hoped that the fair would be a forum for
prospective students and their parents to learn about the programmes that
Canadian institutions offered.

– NAN