TECHNOCRAT MEDIA, Abuja
Nigerian youth say the federal government should make its position known about the conduct of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations for Nigerians seeking further study abroad.
The examination being conducted by the United Kingdom Embassy and the British Council in Nigeria as a requirement to authenticate their proficiency in speaking the English Language.
Young Nigerians make the call during a public conversation on the issue organized by TECHNOCRAT MEDIA via Twitter Spaces on Monday moderated by Daisi Omokungbe.
One of the speakers, Godbless Otubure lamented said the IELTS requirement for Nigerians is a slap on the country.
“I have on many occasions rejected the opportunities and offers to study abroad because of IELTS requirement. Nigeria long ago adopted the English language as its official lingua Franka.”
“I don’t see any reason why Nigeria should be subjected to IELTS when countries such as Ghana are being waived from the examination. It is nothing but a slap on Nigeria. I, Godbless Otubure will continue to reject offers to study abroad until the requirement is removed. It is not just about me but the collective of Nigerians.”, Mr Otubure said.
He also noted that the United Kingdom has the option of choosing between the school fees to be paid by Nigerians to their universities or just the fees been charged for the conduct of IELTS.
Akintunde Babatunde of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) said the IELTS requirement is not supposed to be imposed on Nigerians.
He said the cost of IELTS is too much for a certificate that is meant to expire in just two years.
“I wrote the examination and scored 7.0 but I felt the pain in my heart because I started speaking the English Language before I learned how to speak Yoruba even when I was born and brought in Oyo state.”
“The cost of IELTS and the period of validity call for concerns if it will not be totally scrapped. I enjoy Nigerian youths pushing this advocacy further until something happens and we should also make the government of Nigeria take a stand.”, Mr Babatunde said.
The youth agreed to petition the presidency, ministries of education, and foreign affairs asking the government to make its position known to Nigerians and the United Kingdom.
Recall that Nigerians on Twitter and the Policy Shapers have called for the reform on the IELTS requirement for Nigerians.
