Nigerian Universities are leaving significant revenue and influence on the table by failing to aggressively recruit international students across Commonwealth countries, a leading education strategist has warned, calling on Institutions to treat global student recruitment as a core survival strategy rather than a routine admission exercise.

Prof. Anthony Kila, Commonwealth Institute Director and Professor of Strategy and Development, issued the charge during a strategic presentation at the Commonwealth University Leaders' Conference, where University administrators, policymakers and education strategists gathered to discuss funding, leadership and sustainability in higher education.

Speaking on the theme "International Student Recruitment as a Source of Extra and Foreign Revenue Generation," Kila argued that Nigerian universities already hold considerable natural advantages that remain largely unexploited.

"We are an English speaking country with strong intellectual traditions, global cultural visibility through music and film, relatively affordable tuition, and an existing reputation across parts of Africa. The question is whether we are prepared to organise ourselves strategically enough to compete globally," he stated.

Kila identified Commonwealth nations in Africa and the Caribbean as immediate recruitment targets, specifically naming Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. He also pointed to India, Pakistan, the Middle East and African diaspora communities in Europe and North America as viable markets.

Areas of academic strength he recommended for international positioning included African Studies, Governance and Diplomacy, FinTech, Entrepreneurship, Public and Tropical Health, Nollywood, Afrobeat and Creative Arts.

Kila cautioned, however, that structural weaknesses continue to undermine Nigeria's internationalisation potential. "Students choose universities for reputation, safety, stability, administrative efficiency and confidence. Universities that are invisible online cannot recruit globally," he warned, citing poor digital visibility, outdated application systems and underdeveloped international student support as critical gaps.

His proposed framework for reform included upgrading institutional websites, establishing dedicated international offices, attending global recruitment fairs, strengthening alumni networks and investing in branding. He urged vice chancellors to treat internationalisation as a primary institutional priority.

Kila also announced that Institutions in the Commonwealth Collegium network would access collaborative recruitment platforms, partnership opportunities and student mobility agreements across member countries.

"International recruitment is more than admissions," he concluded. "It is an economic, institutional, reputational, soft power and development strategy."