Campaigners in Nigeria are asking the British government to alter its policy of requiring English language tests for people who want to live or study in the UK.
Most overseas nationals applying for a UK visa must show proficiency in English by taking a standardised test, known as IELTS. Citizens of countries that the UK regards as “majority English-speaking” are exempt, but currently this doesn’t include Nigeria.
The campaign was launched by Ebenezar Wikina of Policy Shapers, a youth-led Nigerian think tank, in 2020. Since then, it has gained traction on social media under the hashtag #reformIELTS, and been covered by the BBC World Service. More than 70,000 people have signed a petition in support of the campaign.
