‘Japa’: Scholar lists mistakes Nigerian students seeking admission in Canada must avoid

Kingsley Ibhazehiebo, a Canada-based Nigerian scholar, has highlighted common mistakes made by Nigerian students seeking to study in Canada, the US, UK among others. 

Ibhazehiebo is a senior research associate and project manager at the University of Calgary in Canada.

At a recent session with journalists, the scholar said people seeking to study in Canada must understand the intricacies of the country’s admission and visa process to be successful.

The graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) said admissions into Canadian universities are becoming increasingly competitive due to a surge in the number of applicants in recent years.

“When it comes to schooling in Canada, it is important to take a lot of things into consideration. What I tell people is that: don’t just apply for programmes. You should consider your age, programmes you are interested in, if you have had any study gap, what your career progression has been, your CGPA, what is required for the programme you want to study, and which schools offer such programme,” he said.

“Many Nigerians seeking to study abroad do not get admission due to the following: One, they do not meet the academic requirements for the programme applied for. Two, they meet the academic requirements but are not competitive with their non-academic requirements like their CVs and statement of interest usually required by most schools.

“Three, it could also be that the chosen programme do not suit the applicant’s academic background. Four, it may also be due to the fact the applicants’ referees wrote very poor recommendation letters for them. That is on the admission part. All these factors affect chances of getting admission into schools in Canada.”

Ibhazehiebo also explained that some applicants who managed to get admission are usually denied study visas into Canada because of a lack of understanding of the country’s immigration policies.

“Some applicants are denied study visas even after getting admission due to the following factors. The first is that such applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient proof of funds,” he added.

“One thing visa officials look at is the ability of the applicants to show available and accessible proof of funds. That is, show that you have sufficient funds for your tuition and upkeep. That is a major reason many applicants are denied visas to study abroad.

“The second factor is the relevance of the programme applied to the applicant’s career advancement. Many Nigerian applicants make this mistake. Thirdly, applicants should also be able to strongly defend why they opted not to study the selected programme in their home country.

“The fourth factor is that applicants must demonstrate intent, at least on paper, to return to their country after the completion of their study. These are common reasons some applicants are either denied admission or study visa.”

Ibhazehiebo, who doubles as an education consultant, said the quest to make the admission and visa process easier for Nigerians and other applicants informed the establishment of DRK Educonsult, where he serves as the team lead.

 

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He said the firm takes a “different and holistic approach” regarding educational consulting and immigration services.

The career coach added that the firm provides “top-notch consultation services to developing a road map for you, including deciding on best-fit programs and schools, best provinces to given your age, finances, and family situation, advising on long term career plans, and other relevant factors needed to ensure you make the best out of your study.”