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Japa: Six Must-have Documents To Study In Canada

Published

3 years ago

February 10, 2023

Editor

For many Nigerians, the study route is one of the easiest and fastest way to ‘japa’ and Canada is one of the most preferred destinations for international students.

Each year, hundreds of Nigerians migrate to Canada. The government recently revealed that it was opening doors to 1.5 million migrants between 2023 and 2025.

So, are you seeking to move to Canada through a student visa? Here are six must-have documents required for a successful ‘japa’ trip.

1. Valid passport

You cannot successfully migrate to Canada without a valid passport. Your passport is your identity, as it shows the country you’re from and whether or not you migrated legally, as well as the type or category of visa approved.

A passport is usually issued by your country of origin. The Nigeria Immigration Service is charged with the responsibility of issuing passports in the country.

It is important to apply for and be issued this document before starting your admission process.

2. Previous Degree Certificate

Lastly, as an international student seeking to be admitted into a Canadian university, you will usually be asked to upload a copy of your university certificate.

However, for undergraduate admission, an o-level or diploma certificate will be required.

3. Academic transcript

As an international student seeking admission in Canada, particularly for Masters, you must be able to provide your academic transcript from your university here in Nigeria.

An academic transcript, also known as Transcript of Records is a vital record when applying to study abroad and it aids the higher educational institutions in gauging the abilities, qualifications and understanding of the candidate for a particular course.

4. Statement of purpose

Universities abroad will require you to submit your application with a Statement of Purpose that articulates your career path and goals. This helps them in choosing the right candidate for the courses offered by them.

A statement of purpose is usually a document which gives reasons why you are applying to the school and why you should be given admission to study your chosen course.

Knowing how to prepare this document and writing it according to the demands of the school you are applying to is a plus.

5. Reference letters

A majority of universities abroad require a reference letter. A reference letter is a recommendation from someone who knows you well and can vouch for your abilities.

This letter helps the university admission committee to know and understand more about you. It is a great tool that showcases your skills and abilities as recognised by your referee.

It serves as a validation of your resume for both academic and/or professional experiences · It gives a third-person opinion of your candidature. If you’re seeking to study in Canada, you should get at least three reference letters. However, the number of reference letters required from international students depends on the school.

6. Proof of English Language Proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)

Although many Africans can speak the English Language, Africa as a continent does not have a common language. So, you will be required to prove that you understand the language.

English Language proficiency scores are essential both for admissions as well as while applying for visa

It is for this reason that many schools in Canada require you to sit for IELTS/TOEFL or any other standardised English test. However, in recent times, some schools have stopped requesting this.

It is important to note that depending on university, requirements may defer, however, the six documents listed above are most times a most-have for international students seeking to study in Canada.

Headline

42 Killed In Israeli Attacks, Says Gaza’s Civil Defense

Published

7 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 42 people killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday, as the Israeli army prepared for a new assault on the Palestinian territory’s largest city.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said there had been several air strikes around Gaza City — which the military is gearing up to capture — including one in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood that killed eight people.

Attacks were also reported elsewhere across the territory, he said, with the “total tally currently rising to 42 dead”.

The army did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figure.

“The situation is extremely dangerous… Each day, each minute, there are bombings, martyrs, death and blood — we can’t take it anymore,” Al-Sabra resident Ibrahim Al-Shurafa told AFP, explaining strikes and shelling were ongoing.

“We don’t know where to go. Death follows us everywhere,” he added.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel’s offensive has killed at least 62,686 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

AFP

Headline

Venezuela Frees Eight Opposition Leaders

Published

7 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Venezuelan authorities released eight opposition leaders from jail early Sunday, including a former congressman and two Italian citizens, and granted house arrest to five others, an opposition politician said.

Most of those released had been charged with corruption in opposition-run mayoral offices.

Also set free was Congressman, Amirico de Grazia, detained amid protests that erupted during President Nicolas Maduro’s reelection in 2024.

“Today, several families are once again embracing their loved ones. We know there are many left, and we have not forgotten them; we continue to fight for everyone,” two-time former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said on X.

Opposition leaders Victor Jurado, Simon Vargas, Arelis Ojeda Escalante, Mayra Castro, Diana Berrio, Gorka Carnevalli, as well as Italian nationals Margarita Assenzo and de Grazia were released, Capriles said.

Nabil Maalouf, Valentin Gutierrez Pineda, Rafael Ramirez, Pedro Guanipa, and David Barroso were placed under house arrest.

The Italian government confirmed the release of de Grazia and Assenzo, who must appear in court to clarify the conditions of their release. It also vowed to continue working on securing the release of other detained Italians.

“We have always said, and we maintain it: we will talk to whomever we need to talk to so that there is not a single political prisoner in our Venezuela!” Capriles added.

AFP

Headline

Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Of War, Civilians

Published

8 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Russia and Ukraine each sent back more prisoners of war on Sunday in the latest in a series of exchanges that have seen hundreds of POWs released this year, the two sides said.

Large-scale prisoner exchanges were the only tangible result of three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul between May and July.

They remain one of the few areas of cooperation between the two countries since Russia’s offensive began in 2022.

“On August 24, 146 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled” by Kyiv, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram.

“In exchange, 146 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred” to Ukraine, it added. Ukraine did not confirm any figures for the release.

Russia also said that “eight citizens of the Russian Federation—residents of the Kursk region, illegally detained” by Kyiv were also returned.

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August last year, seizing hundreds of square kilometres (miles) of territory in a major setback for the Kremlin.

Russia deployed thousands of troops from its ally North Korea as part of a counterattack but did not fully reclaim the region until April.

Among the Ukrainians released on Sunday was journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Khyliuk was kidnapped in the Kyiv region in March 2022. He is finally home in Ukraine,” Zelensky said on social media.

Also freed was former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko, “who spent more than three years in captivity,” Zelensky’s aide Andriy Yermak wrote on X.

“In 2022, he was on the list for return, but Volodymyr voluntarily refused to be exchanged in favour of a seriously ill prisoner with whom he was sharing a cell in a Russian prison,” Yermak said.

AFP