UK policy change allows students to work after competing studies
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerians are emigrating to the United Kingdom in large numbers because a change in policy encourages staying back to work after completing higher degrees, plus the presence of many citizens of Nigerian origin attracts relatives and friends.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, gave the clarification in Abuja in explaining the surge in the number of students and others heading to the UK.
She said the UK welcomes talent and is an attractive destination for Nigerians, especially students, to study, and work, with English language making it easier.
Someone studying for a Master’s or PhD degree up to a minimum of two years can now work in the UK upon the completion of their course.
Laing stressed London is mindful of the situation and is in talks with Abuja to avoid brain drain, especially in Nigeria’s health sector, according the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“You know, there are obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends. Secondly, the English language obviously makes it a lot easier,” she said.
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Policy change facilitates migration
“Third is education, and people who have studied will want to return. And I think you know, we are a welcoming country and we want to welcome talents, whether it’s people coming to study, or people coming to work
“So, a lot of Nigerians will be tuned to the UK and we have seen actually a very big increase in requests for Nigerian student visas. That is partly because we have changed our policy,” Laing added, per reporting by Nairametrics.
“So it is now easier for Nigerian students to remain after their studies; they can stay I think up to two years if you have done a Master’s or a PhD, which will enable people to look for work after they have studied.
“We have a labour shortage in the UK at the moment. But we have to balance that because we do not also want to be responsible for a massive brain drain from Nigeria because you also need talented people.
“So the health sector is an example where there are a lot of Nigerian medics, both nurses and doctors, in the National Health Service.’’
