In a recent report from the United Kingdom government, Nigeria has emerged as the leader in hosting the highest number of dependents brought in by international students over the past four years. The startling statistics reveal that the number of dependents from Nigeria skyrocketed to an impressive 60,506 by the end of September 2023, marking an astounding increase of 59,079 from the mere 1,427 recorded in 2019.
Surpassing India, Nigeria now claims the top spot, with India's dependent count standing at 43,445 at the close of the third quarter of 2023, compared to 2,127 in 2019. The UK government attributes this surge to the increase in main applicants but notes substantial growth in dependants of both Indian and Nigerian nationals.
The report emphasizes that the total number of dependants and the proportion of all sponsored study-related visas granted to dependants have shown a consistent upward trajectory since 2019. This trend is linked to a shift in the composition of students coming to study in the UK, particularly an increase in those pursuing higher education compared to the pre-pandemic era. Moreover, the UK government suggests that students arriving for higher education are typically older and more likely to have already established families. The implications of this trend on the UK's educational landscape and society at large are now under close scrutiny.
