Japa Series: Nigerian students can now pay UK and U.S. tuition fees with ₦aira cards

Tuition season used to mean dread for Nigerian families. Between skyrocketing parallel market rates and failed bank transactions, getting school fees across borders to the UK, US, or Canada became a logistical nightmare.

At one point, payments through official channels could take over 120 days (~4 months) to process, enough time to miss admission deadlines or jeopardize visa approvals. The FX crunch pushed most students toward fintech platforms like Flutterwave, Geegpay, or Pay4Me, which, while faster, often came with higher fees.

Now, the tide may be turning.

GTBank, Lotus Bank, and others have resumed international tuition payments directly from naira accounts, using the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Form A portal—a service previously limited by forex scarcity. Students can now submit applications via the Trade System Portal, attach required documents, and have payments processed in as little as four days at the official rate.

How to Use ₦aira to Pay Your University Tuition Fees

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an increasing number of students opting for international education, seeking prestigious institutions and diverse educational environments. While most foreign schools prefer to receive tuition fees in their local currency, paying with Naira can be a daunting task due to the restrictions imposed by foreign

TechloyGabriel Ojeh

It’s one of the clearest signs yet that Nigeria’s FX reforms, including the naira float, improved diaspora remittances, and cleared payment backlogs, are starting to benefit everyday people.

And with ~52,000 Nigerians moving to the UK alone in 2024 (via UK ONS), this new flow could ease dependence on third-party payment apps. But it makes one also wonder: If students can now pay directly, will fintechs lose their grip on education payments? Or will they double down on value-added services like faster processing, split payments, or university partnerships?

Nigerian banks have resumed international transactions on Naira cards

It signals a long-awaited relief for customers who’ve been stuck relying on virtual dollar cards.

TechloyLouis Eriakha

Either way, with official channels restored and more affordable, their premium convenience may no longer justify the markup for many families.

What’s clear, though, is that the CBN is working to restore trust in official FX access points. And for students who've spent the past few years patching together uncertain, expensive tuition payments, that trust could return soon enough.

Still, the Form A system isn’t flawless. Approval hinges on proper documentation, bank responsiveness, and the CBN’s ability to maintain FX stability.

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