Reno Omokri Vows to Push for IELTS, TOEFL Waivers for Nigerian Students Abroad
By Passman Akpos
Former presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, has pledged to champion the cause of Nigerian students by advocating for the removal of mandatory English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for Nigerians seeking to study abroad.
Omokri made the promise in a public statement, assuring students that wherever he finds himself in the future—whether as a public servant or private citizen—he would use every available platform to lobby foreign governments to reconsider the policy.
“One promise I make to Nigerian students is that wherever I find myself in future, whether as a public servant or a private citizen, as God gives me strength and utterance, I will do my best to get as many nations as possible to reconsider the requirement that Nigerian undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking to study abroad take IELTS or TOEFL before being granted visas,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s widespread use of English as its lingua franca should be recognised internationally, stressing that the language reality of the country ought to count for something in global education policies.
“For better or worse, Nigeria’s lingua franca is English, and that ought to count for something,” Omokri added.
The outspoken commentator also highlighted the financial strain faced by many Nigerian families attempting to fund foreign education, noting that raising capital for tuition alone is already a major hurdle.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the introduction of the student loan scheme— which he said has so far benefited an estimated 788,000 students—Omokri maintained that the costs associated with additional testing requirements further burden young Nigerians aspiring to study overseas.
“We now live in a global village, and some of our people will inevitably seek higher education outside our shores,” he said.
Omokri acknowledged that foreign countries are under no obligation to prioritise Nigerian interests but appealed to nations with friendly ties to Nigeria to show empathy towards its youth.
“I will appeal to nations that are friendly towards Nigeria to empathise with our youth and not place on them an additional financial burden that will strain them beyond what they may be able to bear,” he stated.
Reno Omokri, a bestselling author and prominent public intellectual, is widely known for his commentary on governance, education, and youth development, and has consistently positioned himself as an advocate for Nigerian students and young professionals on the global stage.
