This article covers education links, cultural exchanges and the Indian community in Nigeria. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, and the figures for scholarships, students and the community are the estimates given in that brief.

Nigerian students in India

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India has been a destination for Nigerian students pursuing higher education since 1955. The scholarship programme of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), fully funded by the Council, became the main vehicle for Nigerian students to study in India from the 1960s. The brief states that Indian education became popular for its quality and cost-effectiveness, and that a large number of Nigerian students are studying in Indian universities.

Every year, thousands of Nigerian students are admitted to Indian universities under the Study in India (SII) program, according to the brief.

Scholarships and fellowships

The brief describes the following schemes used by Nigerian nationals:

  • ICCR Africa Scholarship Scheme: every year ICCR has offered around 30 fully funded scholarships to Nigerian nationals for under-graduate, post-graduate and higher courses in India. For 2026-27 the slots have been increased to 40.
  • C. V. Raman International Fellowships: Nigerian nationals regularly take up these Government of India fellowships for doctoral and post-doctoral research training.
  • Hindi Scholarship: Nigerian nationals regularly attend year-long Hindi classes at the Central Institute of Hindi in Agra.
  • AYUSH Scholarship: Nigerian students regularly avail the AYUSH Scholarship offered by ICCR.

Application procedures and eligibility are not described in the brief and should be checked through official channels.

Online education under e-VBAB

The Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) signed the e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati (e-VBAB) MoU in September 2021. Under it, India has offered free tele-education to 15000 students and free tele-medicine to 1000 doctors and paramedics.

For academic year 2022, the iLearn portal was opened for Nigerian students for online courses, and around 11500 students applied for scholarships. In total, 4830 Nigerian students were admitted to universities in India. In 2023, around 450 Nigerian students were admitted.

Cultural cooperation

A Program on Cultural Cooperation between the two governments was among the documents signed during the Prime Minister's State visit to Nigeria in November 2024.

ICCR Indian dance troupes that have recently performed in Nigeria include:

  • Haryana Folk Dance Troupe, November 2018
  • Bastar Band Dance Troupe from Chhattisgarh, 2-14 April 2019
  • Narmada Cultural Organization, a Manipuri Dance Group, 21-26 November 2019
  • Odyssey Dance Troupe Kaishiki Dance Academy, 23-29 January 2020
  • a Kathak group led by Ms. Surabhi Singh, 27 January to 3 February 2021
  • Baba Gorenath Gotipua Dance Association, 01-06 November 2021

Nigerian troupes have also performed in India. A 10 members Afri Theater Artist group took part in the second National Tribal Festival in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, from 28-31 October 2021. In February 2025, a 20 member Nigerian cultural troupe from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture & Creative Economy took part in the 38th Surajkund Mela. Nigeria had also taken part in the previous 3 editions of the Mela, with the troupes jointly sponsored by MEA and the Government of Haryana.

The Indian community in Nigeria

The Indian community in Nigeria is estimated at about 50,000 persons, including Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders. The brief describes it as the largest Indian expatriate community in West Africa. It also observes that a generation of Nigerians now in their forties to sixties were taught by Indian teachers, treated by Indian doctors and grew up watching Indian movies.

There is a CBSE affiliated Indian Language School in Lagos with about 2,000 students. Indian Cultural Associations (ICAs) are present in prominent Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.

In January 2021, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) was awarded to the Indian Culture Association (ICA), Lagos. According to the brief, this was the first such award for any individual or organisation in Nigeria.

Leaders' interactions with the community

Indian ministers and the Prime Minister have met the community in recent years:

  • Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, interacted virtually on 4 June 2021.
  • Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, interacted with the community on 29 May 2023.
  • Dr S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, interacted with the community on 21 January 2024.
  • The Prime Minister interacted with the Indian community on 17 November 2024 during his State Visit to Nigeria.