REASONS TO WHY MOST NIGERIANS FLY TO GHANA FOR EDUCATION

As more Nigerians continue to pour into Ghana for tertiary education, some Ghanaian educationists have said the reputation and culture of a number of Ghanaian universities are the major attractions to Nigerians studying in that country. A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Naa Adamafio and Prof. Daniel Bour of the first private university in Ghana, Valley View University (VVU), said parents’ knowledge of the serene and conducive environment which is devoid of cultism, student unionism, and insurgency were some of the factors that contributed to the large patronage. Both bared their minds during a media chat in Ghana while responding to a question on why many Nigerians now prefer to study in Ghana and pay exorbitant prices when the federal and state government have provided enough schools. Prof. Adamafio said “reputation, parents knowledge of the school, international exposure which most parents want for their children without necessarily sending them very far from home, as well as differences in culture, and the incessant strikes in Nigerian universities are majorly the reasons why Nigerian come to study in Ghana.” Emphasising that “University of Ghana, Legon, is strong in humanities and medicine but traditionally for humanities even though every university does everything these days,” the professor of biochemistry noted that “competition in Legon is driving out some of the international students as well as not having the requisite subjects from secondary school.” She further stated that Ghanaian institutions had benefitted tremendously from peaceful co-existence and reputation devoid of strikes as “International reputation matters a lot in whether or not parents will send their students to an institution.” On his own part, Prof. Bour opined that VVU which he said was known for its dress codes which are devoid of jewellery for boys and girls, make-ups, sagging of trousers and uncoordinated haircuts among others had endeared itself to the hearts of many parents who want the best for their children.