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    Why more Nigerians JAPA for The UK

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      The term “JAPA” has become a household word in Nigeria. If you’re a Nigerian, it is either you have “JAPA-ed” or know someone who had in the last one year.

    Wondering what that means? It’s simply relocation or emigration in search of greener pastures outside the shores of the Giant of Africa.

    One route used by young and middle-aged Nigerians (between 18 and 40) in this search is education.

    In the first six months of 2022, the number of Nigerians granted student visas by the United Kingdom increased by 222.8 percent to 65,929 from 20,427 in the same period of 2021. This is the highest in four years.

    Immigration data released by the British government indicates that in 2019, 8,384 students’ visas were issued, it increased to 9,066 in 2019 and 20, 427 in 2021.

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    What is responsible for this surge? What do Nigerians stand to gain?

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    British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, provided answers to these questions on Sunday when she featured at the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja.

    British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.

    Laing cited the need to be with family and friends as the first reason for this sharp move.

    “You know, there is obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends,” she said.

    She also noted that with English language being the official language of communication in Nigerian, the people find it easier to blend into the UK system.

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    The British High Commissioner listed the quality of education provided in the country and its friendly disposition to foreigners as the third and fourth factors.

    In her words “Thirdly is the education; and people who have studied, they 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.”

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    Lastly, Catriona Laing said the change of the UK’s policy has led to the increase in requests for Nigerian student visas.

    See also  Tanzania’s population swells by 16 million in a decade

    “So it is now easier for Nigerians, students to remain after their studies, they can stay for, I think, up to two years if you have done a masters or a PhD, which will enable people to look for work after they have studied.

    “We have 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,” Laing said.

    No fewer than 21,000 Nigerians are settled majorly across England (16,980) Scotland (2,655) Wales (935) Northern Ireland (740).

    Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that Nigerians spent $609.5 million on foreign education between January and August 2022.

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    Africa

    Online Confrontation Erupts as Man Urges Internet Spiritualist Uzihben to Embrace Christianity, Met with Counterclaim

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    In a digitally-fueled confrontation that sparked intense debate across social media platforms, an unknown individual challenged prominent Internet Spiritualist Uzihben to embrace Christianity, only to receive a counterclaim from Uzihben urging him to reconnect with his ancestral roots. The fiery exchange of words unfolded on October 3, 2023, and has since become a hot topic of discussion in online communities.

    The dispute, which originated on Uzihben’s social media channel, began when a man, a devout Christian, publicly implored Uzihben to accept Jesus Christ as his savior and renounce his spiritualist beliefs. The man argued that Christianity provided the path to salvation and spiritual enlightenment.

    See also  Tanzania’s population swells by 16 million in a decade

    In response to the man’s call for conversion, Uzihben retorted with a message emphasizing the importance of ancestral reverence and heritage. Uzihben encouraged the to explore his own ancestral spirituality and traditions, arguing that connecting with one’s roots can be a profound and fulfilling spiritual journey.

    The online exchange escalated as both parties defended their respective beliefs and perspectives. The man reiterated his conviction that Christianity offered the ultimate spiritual truth and salvation, while Uzihben emphasized the value of diverse spiritual paths and the need to respect individual choices.

    As the debate raged on, observers on social media weighed in with a variety of opinions. Some supported the man’s efforts to share his faith, while others praised Uzihben for championing the idea of exploring one’s cultural and ancestral heritage as a source of spiritual fulfillment.

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    While the exchange remained largely civil, it underscored the ongoing tension between different belief systems and the challenges of religious and spiritual dialogue in the age of the internet. The encounter left both the man and Uzihben with firm convictions in their respective faiths and worldviews.

    In the aftermath of this online confrontation, discussions on the role of religion, spirituality, and cultural heritage in personal belief systems continued to reverberate through online communities. It served as a reminder of the diversity of perspectives and the importance of respectful dialogue in an increasingly interconnected world.

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    As the digital age continues to foster global conversations about spirituality and belief, exchanges like this one remind us of the need for tolerance, empathy, and understanding in navigating the complex landscape of faith and spirituality in the modern era.

    Watch the video below:

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    Africa

    How much is Nigeria International Passport 2023

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    In the year 2023, the cost of the standard 32 pages passport is N70,000 and 64 pages cost N100,000.

     

    See also  Kenya Airways pilots call off strike, resume operations
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    Africa

    Give us another G5 for APC to win in 2027, Akpabio tells Wike

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    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. [Twitter:@KingAmakiriTheo]

    Give us another G5 for APC to win in 2027, Akpabio tells Wike

    The G5 is a group of five aggrieved politicians who opposed their party’s decision to elect a northerner and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election.

    Meanwhile, the Senate President said he wished for another aggrieved group to emerge within the PDP ahead of the next general elections to make things easier for his party.

    “I want to thank you for all your efforts to bring justice to Nigeria,” the Senate President said.

    And I want to thank the G5 Governors.

    “We are very delighted, we are proud to have G5. Please, ensure that in 2027, another G5 emerges so that APC will continue to do well in this country. And if you like, you can add two more, make it G7 and not only G5,” Akpabio added.

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