Kila urges Nigerian universities to aggressively recruit in Commonwealth countries

*Provides a strategic framework and international network for success at the Commonwealth University Leaders’ Conference

Professor Anthony Kila, Director of the Commonwealth Institute and Professor of Strategy and Development, has urged Nigerian universities to aggressively pursue the recruitment of international students in Commonwealth countries, describing global education as one of the most strategic and underutilized opportunities for revenue and influence available to higher institutions in Nigeria today.
The Don made the call during a strategic presentation at the recently concluded Commonwealth University Leaders Conference, where university leaders, education strategists, policymakers and institutional administrators gathered to discuss funding, leadership and sustainability in higher education.
Speaking on the topic of “International Student Recruitment as a Source of Extra and Foreign Revenue Generation”, Kila argued that Nigerian universities must start viewing international education not simply as an admissions business but as a strategic industry linked to economics, diplomacy, reputation and institutional survival in the twenty-first century.
According to him, universities around the world now compete internationally for students, partnerships, visibility and financial sustainability, while Nigerian universities continue to underperform in a sector where the country already has significant natural advantages.
“Nigerian universities already possess many strategic advantages,” Kila explained. “We are an English-speaking country with strong intellectual traditions, global cultural visibility through music and film, relatively affordable tuition, and an existing reputation in parts of Africa. The question is whether we are prepared to organize ourselves strategically enough to compete globally.”
Kila identified Commonwealth countries in Africa and the Caribbean as immediate recruiting opportunities for Nigerian universities, specifically mentioning Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. He also highlighted opportunities in India, Pakistan, the Middle East and among African diaspora communities in Europe and North America.
He argued that Nigerian universities can attract international students in areas where the country has strong academic and cultural relevance, including African studies, governance and diplomacy, political economy, financial technology, entrepreneurship, public and tropical health, religion and society, Nollywood, Afrobeats and creative arts.
Kila, however, warned that many Nigerian universities remain structurally unprepared for internationalization due to weak branding, poor digital visibility, outdated application systems, inconsistent academic calendars and underdeveloped support for international students.
“International recruiting is as much about perception as it is about education,” he said. “Students choose universities for reputation, security, stability, administrative efficiency and trust. Invisible online universities cannot recruit globally.”
As part of his conference presentation, Kila proposed a practical framework for Nigerian universities seeking to internationalize intelligently. Recommendations included updating institutional websites, creating dedicated international offices, improving response times to inquiries, participating in international recruitment fairs, strengthening alumni networks abroad, developing digital recruitment systems, and investing in branding and visibility.
He also highlighted the importance of leadership commitment, urging university presidents and administrators to view internationalization as a central institutional strategy rather than a peripheral strategy.
Importantly, Kila announced that institutions participating in the Commonwealth Academic Network will be able to benefit from collaborative support structures, partnerships and recruitment opportunities through the Commonwealth Collegium framework. According to him, the network can facilitate partnerships between Commonwealth countries, support recruitment missions, create shared recruitment platforms, strengthen dialogue on quality assurance and promote agreements on student mobility.
He further noted that international students generate value beyond tuition fees, contributing to revenue related to accommodation, hospitality services, executive education opportunities, conferences, tourism and long-term alumni networks that strengthen institutional influence globally.
Kila concluded by emphasizing that universities that internationalize intelligently will become not only financially stronger but also more globally relevant, resilient and influential.
“International recruiting is more than just admissions,” he said. “It is an economic, institutional, reputational, soft power and development strategy.”