By Gabriel Dike
Sixteen Ghanaian accredited universities are expected in the country next week to scout for Nigerian students.
Representatives of the 16 universities, made up of public and private institutions would participate in the International Students Recruitment Fair billed for October 17th and 18th in Lagos.
Addressing newsmen on the forthcoming event, the Deputy Director, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Mr. Banda Abdallah, said many universities go to other countries to recruit new students, which form part of export service.
He disclosed that Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is collaborating with the Ghana High Commission to bring the 16 accredited public and private universities for the students recruitment fair in Nigeria.
Said he: “We participated in Nigeria Trade Fair in 2017 and toured three states in 2018. We will participate in the 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair in November.”
According to him, representatives of the seven public and nine private universities offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses will participate in the two-day fair.
He explained that the fees depends on the courses while some of the universities will be willing to reduce fee based on negotiation.
He confirmed that representatives of the 16 universities can offer on the spot admission and urged Nigerian students and parents to take advantage of the international recruitment fair in Lagos.
Speaking also, the International Recruitment Officer for University of Ghana, Mr. Yaw Dankwah, said there are over 5, 000 Nigerian students studying different courses in either the public or private universities.
He explained that the recruitment exercise by the 16 universities is not about taking advantage of the ongoing prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) because the process started in April 2022.
Dankwah described Ghana educational system as one of the best, noting, our teaching, learning process and research is robust.”
He explained that students offered admission into Ghanaian universities do not require Visa and that other logistics would be handled by each university to ensure the new students take off on a sound footing without stress.
On qualification, he said Nigerian students would not have issues because both countries operates same education system and use WASSCE result as entry qualification.
He acknowledged that early educated Ghanaian schooled in Nigeria and also some taught in Nigerian schools.
Trade Attache of Ghana Consulate General, Mr. I. Quansah, said the mission has been collaborating with its universities in recruitment exercise in Nigeria, which shares same education system.
Quansah disclosed that many Nigerian students are interested in studying in Ghanaian universities and that the recruitment fair offers them the opportunity.