Hundreds of Nigerian migrants have been accused of manipulating a UK visa scheme designed for exceptional literary talents, including authors, poets, oral storytellers, and creators of graphic novels and comics, to gain entry into Britain.
A report by Mail Online alleges that some Nigerians have falsified their professional credentials to qualify for the Global Talent visa, which allows successful applicants to bring dependents and stay in the UK for up to five years.
According to official figures cited by The Telegraph, Nigerians submitted 125 applications to the literature category of the Global Talent visa over the past five years, surpassing the 61 applications from the US and far exceeding those from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand combined, 54 were endorsed by Arts Council England, a government body that reviews applications, making Nigeria the most successful in this category.
However, 70 applications were rejected.The number of Global Talent visa applications from Nigeria has surged by 2,225% since 2019, rising from 12 applications to 279 in 2024.
Across all categories, including dance, fashion, music, film, TV, theatre, combined arts, and visual arts, Nigerians made 729 applications, second only to the US with 977.
Despite this, Nigeria’s endorsement rate of 59% is the lowest after Ghana. Other countries, including Russia (725 applications), China (492), Australia (233), and India (160), also feature prominently.
Since 2019, over 5,000 applications across all nationalities have been submitted, with 3,600 endorsed.
The Mail report highlights concerns about immigration levels, with both legal and illegal arrivals reaching record highs, putting pressure on the Labour government to address migration challenges.
The Home Office is yet to comment on the allegations or outline measures to address potential abuses of the Global Talent visa program.
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