Maple News reports a sharp increase in the number of Nigerian students choosing Canada as their study destination—solidifying Nigeria’s role as a cornerstone in the evolving success of Canada’s international education sector.
In 2019, just over 3,000 Canadian study permits were granted to Nigerian nationals. Those numbers have grown significantly, doubling in 2021 and doubling again in 2022. So far in 2023, nearly 18,000 study permits were issued to Nigerian students in the first half of the year alone, second only to India in volume.
Between January and June 2023, Nigeria emerged as Canada’s fastest-growing source of international students, with a 44% increase in permits compared to all of 2022. The momentum continues to build—with over 43,000 study permit applications submitted by Nigerian students in just the first six months of 2023—positioning them to become Canada’s second-largest cohort of international students this year.
Notably, approval rates for Nigerian study permits have improved significantly. From averaging below 20% between 2017 and 2019, they have climbed to nearly 40% in 2023. One key insight from ApplyBoard attributes past low approval rates to financial documentation concerns, which cited insufficient funds in 74% of refusal cases in 2021 and 2022.
Despite earlier challenges, Nigerian students are now more widely distributed across Canada than many other international student cohorts. Provinces like Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick each welcomed over 5% of Nigerian students between January and June 2023, broadening the impact of international education beyond the traditional hubs.
Concerns over systemic fairness and transparency in visa decisions led to a federal Parliamentary review in Canada last year. Following strong criticism, especially over low visa approval rates for African students, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recommended reforms to enhance equity in the student visa process. Since then, approval rates for students from African countries, including Nigeria, have steadily risen.
The growing Nigerian student population is not only reinforcing Canada’s post-secondary institutions but is also contributing to the broader economy and labor market. Their presence highlights the importance of continued reform in the visa approval process to remove barriers and strengthen global access to Canadian education.
Canada’s expanding relationship with Nigeria in the education space signals a deeper alignment in global talent mobility, and policymakers are taking note. With sustained support and improved access, Nigerian students are poised to become central figures in Canada’s future academic, economic, and innovation landscapes.