By Wahab Adesina

Many secondary school leavers want to travel abroad for further studies, the need to save cost, be mature enough to embark on such a journey are some of the factors that could be a stumbling block. To also bridge the gap of not having GCE advanced level results, International Foundation Year programme is what some universities in places like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and others, accept in lieu of advanced level results. A great opportunity for Nigerians to do the programme locally has just berthed with the launch of Globalink Pathway College. In this interview, the Director/ Founder, Tolani Jaiyeola, speaks on the advantages of doing the programme locally among others. 

What gave birth to Globalink Pathway College and what is it out to achieve? 

It is a Nigerian vision to deliver education programmes and opportunities for people across the globe. We are partnering with the Northern Consortium of UK Universities, NCUK, and I have been consulting for universities for over a decade. I am an international education consultant. I studied in the UK as well and I did my Master’s in one of the prestigious universities and that transformed my life and I started working in the education sector.

Most Nigerian students , when they complete their secondary school education don’t have the opportunity to progress directly to a  university in the UK. At Globalink Pathway College , we provide a qualification equivalent to first year in the university and then, they can go to the UK or any other place to study for three years or the duration of their programmes. It gives them access to universities abroad and we support in that respect. 

How easy is it to pass through that path, studying abroad?

I know when parents hear study abroad, it looks daunting, but when you speak to people that have the experience, who are passionate about it and who work in ethical manner, it is achievable. That is why we are here to help them realise their dreams. We are the third institution to be accredited by the NCUK in this country and we have been given the go ahead by the Ministry of Education too.

Nigeria’s population is over 200 million and majority of our youths still don’t have access to university education. About two million candidates write the UTME and less than 700,000 secure admission. We are here to help bridge the gap.

What are the benefits they will derive passing through Globalink Pathway College?

We have access to over 60 universities in the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia, that is huge. Most of our youths complete secondary school education at about the age of 16. By that age, they don’t have the experience. Coming to us, we give them the opportunity to have inroad to studying abroad.

We are not a secondary school, we offer one year pathway international foundation programme.

The students must have good grades in their WASSCE and we assess them for English Language for academic purposes. They will now study a pathway they require such as business, law, accounting, engineering etc. 

Our partnership with NCUK, a globally recognised consortium of leading universities, is a testament to our commitment to providing world-class education. Through the International Foundation Year programme, we are opening doors for our students to access over 60 prestigious universities worldwide, including institutions in the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada. 

Our aim is to foster academic excellence and personal growth. We are dedicated to nurturing the aspirations of our students, providing them with the tools and support necessary to thrive in an increasingly globalised world. 

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to NCUK for entrusting us with the responsibility of delivering their esteemed programmes. I also appreciate partner universities for their collaboration and commitment to academic excellence.

The Ministry of Education for their guidance and support in aligning our objectives with national educational goals.

The British Council and British High Commission for fostering international educational partnerships and cultural exchange. As we look to the future, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Globalink Pathway College is more than an institution; it is a beacon of hope and opportunity. Together, we will shape the leaders of tomorrow.

How cheap is that going to be?

To study in the UK or anywhere in the world is expensive, but what we have done is to offer a tuition fee level that parents can afford and instead of paying in foreign currency, you pay in naira and the cost is not as high as going to study or do foundation programme in the UK. That is what NCUK is trying to provide for students outside of the UK – accessibility. If the tuition fee for a foundation programme in UK is let us say  £11,000, half of it is what you will pay in naira here. No need to begin to source for forex to go and do it in the UK. Everything is done in naira and that is very important. 

We offer visa service as it is one of the accreditation requirements by NCUK. We will support them in their visa applications and applications to over 60 universities. It is a seamless procedure. The British Council and the British High Commission are also partners.

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