Impacts Of Obtaining Unqualified Educational Certificates From Neighbouring African Countries.

Impacts Of Obtaining Unqualified Educational Certificates From Neighbouring African Countries

As education and certification become increasingly important in Nigeria and today’s globalized worlds, many Nigerians have been on their toes as to how to explore quick means of obtaining such certificates.

This is even as most employers and Organizations continually emphasize on certificates.

As a result, most Nigerians tend to seek educational opportunities in neighboring African countries, where in most cases; such certificates are easily gotten within a short period irrespective of whether they are adequate or if cognitive knowledge was acquired.

Of course, there are benefits in studying in universities outside Nigeria, especially within the African continent.

These include: the potential to improve one’s career prospects, enhanced individual’s skills and qualifications, making them more competitive in the job market.

Furthermore, studying in neighboring African countries can foster cultural exchange and international understanding as well as promote mutual respect and collaboration among African nations.

However, there are potential drawbacks to Nigerians seeking education in neighboring African countries.

The concern here is that, it may lead to a “brain drain” in Nigeria, as skilled individuals may choose to remain in their host countries or seek opportunities abroad.

A case in mind is in the medical field where reports indicate that only less than fifty percent, that is; thirty thousand of the over eighty thousand doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria are currently practicing in the country.

Moreover, the cultural and social adjustment that Nigerians studying in neighboring African countries may experience can have a negative impact.

Adapting to different societal norms and environments can be challenging and may create a sense of detachment from their home country, potentially contributing to a loss of national identity and unity.

Another drawback is that, the quality and recognition of certificates obtained in neighboring African countries may not always align with global standards.

This could potentially devalue the qualifications of Nigerian professionals in the international job market, leading to difficulties in obtaining employment or recognition outside the African continent.

Also, the absence of regulatory oversight and standardization across educational institutions in neighboring countries may result in varying educational standards and inconsistencies in curriculum.

This could lead to disparities in knowledge and skill levels among graduates, posing challenges for employers and impacting negatively on the overall quality of education in the region.

Apparently, this is the result of the rise in the fraudulent issuance of fake and unverifiable degrees and other certificates to willing students.

This is obviously the reason Nigerian Government, early January this year, suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from universities in neighbouring Benin and Togo as well as the East African countries of Kenya and Uganda.

Of course, the announcement came a few days after an undercover exposed certificate racketeering from a university in Benin.

It is therefore, pertinent that the Nigerian government should continuously improve the quality of education in the country to mitigate the need for students to seek education elsewhere, by enhancing educational facilities and resources.

To this end, the provision of adequate funding through proper budgeting is quite vital.

A review of the 2024 education budget for instance revealed that the government budgeted one point five -four Trillion naira for the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies, including fifty billion naira for the Students Loan scheme.

Though the amount is higher than the one point zero eight trillion naira the education ministry received in the 2023 budget, it still falls short of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) budget recommendation for education, which should be between fifteen to twenty percent of the country’s annual budget.

By Sandra Udeike, Edited By Grace Namaiji