Why We Want To Introduce Indian Education In Nigeria

Satish Reddy is the vice chairman, Aditya Group
Educational Institution, India. In this interview with
Chinelo Chikelu, Reddy unveils the reason behind the
institution’s intent to branch out to Nigeria with a
range of schools that will include ICT, skills
acquisition center, and a college in Abuja, Nigeria’s
capital.
What is Aditya Educational Institution all about?
The group of institutions was started by my father,
the chairman N. Sesha in 1984. It has a training
center for the government exams. In 1985, it started
with schools and then colleges and then ran three-
year programmes in architecture, engineering,
pharmacy and for polytechnics and then post
graduate programmes. Right now, from nursery to
post graduate, we have 50,000 students studying in
the institution.
How does the college differ from universities in
India?
We are a private college affiliated to a government
university. So, all the degrees which the students
are given when they graduate are government
certificates from the government university –
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University.
Are there African students in your institution in
India?
Yes, we have had foreign students in the past six
years. Today, we have 800 plus students from 12
countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, Nigeria, South
Sudan, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Benin Republic, Togo,
and Mali. We have been promoting Aditya Group of
Educational Institution in the past two years in
Nigeria. We have about 150 students from Nigeria.
We expect to double that number of students, next
academic session in 2017.
Are the foreign students admitted on scholarship?
How do you for instance attract Nigerian students to
study in the institution?
First, India is known for its quality education.
Second, it is more economically viable to study in
India than studying, say in the UK or Australia. In
Aditya, we are known for our discipline and quality
of education in the past 32 years. With about 50,000
students, we are probably one of the biggest groups
in the whole of India. So, the attraction is basically,
the quality of education and the economic price we
offer. The kind of students we are getting from
Nigeria are self-sponsored students, and those
sponsored by the PET Fernandez Foundation in
Nigeria and a couple of oil companies, as part of
their corporate social responsibilities to their host
country and communities.
Aditya intends to start up a branch in Nigeria. How
do you intend to do so?
I have been visiting Nigeria in the past two years
and worked to find out interests of Nigerians and
the quality of education available. And I thought,
“Why don’t we start a school in Abuja, but with the
Indian level of education.” I had a meeting with a
Nigerian minister because we are planning to set up
the school. So, we have been speaking to the
government, and the government has promised to
give us support, once we start the institution. Plans
are ongoing, and in the next five years, we will
establish a chain of schools, from kindergarten to
college level in Abuja.
To what extent does Aditya Group of Educational
Institution assist indigent African and specifically
Nigerian students to access education in India
collaboration with the PET Fernandez Foundation?
PET Fernandez Foundation had visited our school
and done their inspection. And because they are
doing for charity what we have been doing suppose
for example in engineering course, which costs
$5000. On the tuition fees, we give scholarship up to
25 to 30 students in the first year which comes
down to $3500. It depends with the foundation we
give scholarship to increase the number of students
and to ensure the right quality of students is
admitted.

How soon would Nigerians expect Aditya Group of
Institutions in Abuja, Nigeria?
In my past visits I have studying the country, my
meeting with the government official is a recent
development. Probably in the next six months we
will have a clear look into how we are going to
launch Aditya in Nigeria. Probably, in five years, we
are looking at a chain of schools, probably 10 to 12
schools in Africa.
Should Nigerians look forward to Nigerian arm of
Aditya Group of Educational Institution, India
affiliating with universities in Nigeria or retaining its
affiliation with the Indian varsity, while operating
here?
It is too early to decide. For now, what we are
thinking about is starting with the school not with
the university. We are looking to corroborate with
Central Development Government of India. As we
move forward, if the school plans succeed and all
the other aspects, probably, we will look at setting
up university and post graduate courses. It depends
on people’s call and if they want to affiliate with
Nigerian universities and so on.
Nigeria has challenges with its economy, and
Nigerians would expect courses that would enhance
self-employment. What should Nigerian expect from
Aditya in this direction?
Apart from the schools, we will be looking at setting
up ICT centers, ICT and technological centers, which
will enhance the skills of the local youths. You
know, currently employment is a big challenge for
youths, to secure their future, seeing as the
economy is going down. One reason, we are intent
on developing the skill sector is for youths who are
probably self employed or looking forward to
becoming self employed. With the kind of innovative
thoughts that we intend to cultivate in the minds of
the students, I don’t think employment will be a
problem.
So the studies in your proposed development centers
will focus on vocational and practical education?
Yes. Apart from the schools, that’s what we are
looking at.
What’s the process of entry into Aditya?
They need to have the basic education, or A levels
result. After that, the developing of skills does not
require any kind of technical certification. Let’s
suppose someone wants to enhance his skills in
plumbing activities, he just needs six months
training in a diploma course. He doesn’t need to
have undergo any BSc., mechanical or any
technological certification.
How far does a certificate from Aditya take a
graduate in the labour market? What are the benefits
of an Aditya certificate in the labour market?
If you are looking at the school sector, it is very well
accepted. We are in the field of education, we know
the courses to deliver and how to deliver, and
quality is assured. Coming to the ICT centers and
skill development centers, these have already been
done in India under the National Skills Development
Corporation, which is part of government programme
and everything will be replicated here.
Why is Nigeria a choice for the establishment of
Aditya Educational Institution, India?
My first time in Nigeria, I didn’t know anything but
after that, because we have about 150 students
from the country in Aditya, we were able to receive
support. That and with the support of the PET
Fernandez Foundation, I am known to almost all the
people. And because all the students have
witnessed the quality of education accessible at
Aditya, and Mr Patrick Fernandez, who resides in
Nigeria, had inspected Aditya institution, because of
this relationship, a certain confidence came into the
picture to open in Nigeria.
Source: Leadership