FG approves new transnational education policy

The federal government has approved a new policy on transnational education in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, made this disclosure to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

He stated that criteria for implementing transnational education across boundaries had been accepted by the council.

He said this would allow Nigerian institutions to collaborate with foreign institutions to offer education services within Nigeria.

Sununu explained that as a member of the World Trade Organization, Nigeria was a signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which includes education as an exportable service.

The Minister said the new policy aimed to increase access to tertiary education in Nigeria given the large number of secondary school graduates seeking university admission annually.

He said transnational education would ease placement pressures and allow progressive exchange of ideas and research.

He added that this was expected to boost tertiary enrolment and minimize foreign exchange pressures of Nigerians studying overseas.

Sununu stated that transnational education would attract foreign investment and funding to government institutions

He said “ours in the federal ministry of education is a note to the council on the guidelines for the implementation of transnational education in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a member of world trade organization since 1995. And also signatory to general agreement of trade in services which was signed in 1995

“The gaps are document included education as documentation that can be exportable services that can be done across borders .

“And we are all aware that the effort of Mr. President to increased access to education with greater number of graduate secondary school leavers who are seeking to be graduates or undergraduates in our tertiary institution.

“The placement is becoming serious issues, and therefore, the ministry comes up with a policy of transnational education.

“What it means is that exchange of cross fertilization of ideas exchange that progressive education can be done across borders.

“The documents, provide a guideline whereby a foreign institution can collaborate with local institution within the country, or can even come and establish a conference within the country without become widely access of placement in Nigeria and also permit us to increase access in terms of widening the scope of research that is going to be conducted within the country.

“And not only that, economically, the transnational education will establish would decrease the pressure on Dollar as to exchange rate to go out their to secure as an excellent means to secure education .

“And based on this or this justification presented to the council, which has the policy document that was developed by a National universities Commission and the FME, the council graciously note the presentation of the document so that it can be implemented to increase access to tertiary education in Nigeria.”