What It’s Like For A Nigerian Studying in Benin Republic 

Incessant strikes by state-owned Nigerian universities and the high volume of students seeking university education have spurred a large number of the country’s youths to seek admission, not just in private universities, but also outside the country.

 Benin Republic is one of the go-to countries for those seeking faster admission and a shorter time spent in school, fall back on.

A large number of Nigerians – young and old – are studying in Benin, for a first degree as well as post-graduate degrees.

While it may be an attractive option to study in Benin Republic, there are some factors that make it challenging. These include travel, language barrier and cost of living. 

COMMUTING

Commercial buses are available to transport people travelling from Nigeria straight to Benin Republic, Togo as well and Ghana without making any stops but not everyone takes this option. Some would rather break the journey, moving from bus to bus to enjoy a different experience. 

The major road that leads to Benin Republic is the Lagos-Badagry expressway because that’s where the border is located and although there are more than a few checkpoints, it really is just a straightforward ride from the Badagry roundabout to the border. 

A lot of students who pass through the border get stopped and searched so as to ensure no prohibited goods are being transported and all the necessary credentials are available. 

LANGUAGE BARRIER

  A major factor that affects the move to, and study in Benin Republic, is the language barrier. If you think the people of Benin Republic are proficient in one or two languages spoken widely in Nigeria, that is most definitely not the case.

Basic English is barely understood by most of the indigenes and the Yoruba is not what we Nigerians are used to as they speak “Fongbe” as well as the Egun language which is normally spoken in Badagry.

French is the lingua franca in schools ahead of English as Benin Republic is a French-speaking country but unfortunately, many of the Nigerian students have little to no knowledge of how to speak the language and can barely say basic French words.

 The language barrier has proven to be a very huge factor that disrupts easy living in the country because if an individual is not bilingual or multilingual, there would be restricted communication and this would increase frustration levels and possibly destroy the enthusiasm of some non-indigenes.

EXCHANGE RATE

 Another major factor that can affect the life in Benin Republic for most Nigerians is the exchange rate as it always fluctuates.

At the moment, the naira gets you less CFA than a few months ago.

During the months of February and March N1000 was equivalent to CFA850. Now N1000 will only get you between CFA690 to CFA700.

TOURISM

Despite the above-mentioned challenges of living and studying in Benin Republic, there are also great tourist sites newcomers could explore. 

Some of these sites are; The National Park of Benin Republic, Niger and Burkina Faso which was created in August 1954 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is called “W” national or regional park because it works itself through River Niger inside the shape of a “W”.                  

 The Cotonou Craft Market is another major site in the Republic of Benin as tourists are attracted to the display of handcrafted souvenirs, and household decor items. 

Another major tourist site is the Dantokpa Market. This is the largest market in West Africa, also notable for its souvenirs and beautiful African print fabrics. The market is located by a lagoon and the St. Micheal Boulevard in Cotonou. It is about twenty acres wide and is very easy to get lost in but with a proper guide, there will be plenty of room to explore the market safely and securely.          

The “Esplanade Des Amazones” is a public square located in Cotonou. It is a very popular tourist site which is where the Woman King statue often referred to as the “Amazon”, a 30-metre high statue built in homage to the world’s only all-female army. These Amazons belonged to the Kingdom of Dahomey, an empire in West Africa that existed from the early 17th century to the late 19th century. Some sources claim that they were elephant hunters whose skills were redirected to fighting neighbouring tribes.

SECURITY    

Cotonou has one of the lowest crimes in Africa. Rarely do residents have massive gates or barbed-wire fences surrounding them. International students roam freely with little concern for robbery or other similar crimes.

 People can safely walk down the roads or go for their morning runs at 6:00 am without any feeling of fear or lingering thoughts that they could get mugged.     

 CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

This is not spoken about enough. On the streets of Benin Republic, be it Cotonou or Port-Novo, there is little sign of litter as it is always kept clean. This makes the country aesthetically pleasing and an attractive proposition.                                  

TAKEAWAY

For those thinking of taking the same route of schooling in Benin Republic, it is worth noting that tuition fees are competitive, with many private universities less expensive than their Nigerian counterparts.                                                       

Also, a degree obtained from an accredited school in Benin Republic is accepted in Nigeria and students are eligible to partake in NYSC.         

However, one very attractive reason why students choose Benin Republic is that universities there have a faster academic calendar than those in Nigeria. The bulk of courses 3 years in duration, apart from Engineering and Medical Courses which are 4 year-courses. 

Gabriella Itene 

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