Are you thinking of migrating to a new country with several pathways of getting a permanent residency (PR)?
Then Canada might just be on the top list.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christoff, recently shared valuable advice for Nigerians considering a move to Canada.
During his visit to Lagos Business School, he emphasized that individuals planning to work in Canada should carefully research the skills in demand in the country and ensure that their skills align with those sought after by Canada.
Canada Immigration System
“If there is an alignment there, the process is such that, it’s fairly straight forward but you have to be patient.
“The process is there to align your skills with what we need in Canada. Many Nigerians have taken this path,” he said.
He mentioned that Canada’s population is approximately 40 million, and it ranks as the second-largest country globally by land area, encompassing six time zones.
“It’s a massive country. But to drive that economy, we need skill and unskilled labour, students, thinkers and doers of tomorrow.
“We are very deliberate on what we need and who we need,” he stated.
According to the commissioner, the country’s geography helps them to pick and choose the people coming into the country. “We have to do this to keep abreast of our own economic growth.”
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Canada’s aging population and lower birth rate has been shrinking its labour force, forcing the country to intensify its efforts to attract large, young and vibrant immigrants by offering immigration-friendly policies.
Nigeria-Canada Migration
During the first six months of 2023, there was a notable increase in the migration of Nigerians to Canada, reaching the highest level in nearly a decade.
Information provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates that, they admitted 10,180 Permanent Residents (PRs) from Nigeria in the first half of the year.
This made a slight increase of 0.74 percent compared to the 10,105 individuals admitted during the same period in 2022.
Higher education and work are the major principal conduits of permanent emigration.
But Nigeria’s current realities such as high inflation, unemployment and fragile economic growth have now made it a major reason why its citizens emigrate to other countries for greener pastures.
Educational Immigration Pathway
“Education is a provincial mandate. It’s not a national or federal one. Our provinces manage their educational institutions.
And sometimes, certain provinces provide programs or incentives that attract foreign students,” Christoff said.
“Many foreigners choose to stay in Canada after studies. And the reason why they stay is because they enjoyed their time while studying and most specifically, we offer a path to stay in the country,” he added.
He noted that the country is very distinct from their American and British counterparts which have been prime destinations for Nigerians. “But in Canada, there is a path to stay after graduation.”