Ify Aronu-Okafor
Integral Development Konsult (IDK) has announced that its International Foundation Year (IFY) Study Abroad Programme will commence on October 20, 2025, at its Awka Study Centre. The programme is open to students seeking international academic opportunities, and enrollment is currently ongoing.
The Chief Executive Officer CEO and Managing Consultant of IDK, Mrs Chinwe Nweke, disclosed this during the maiden edition of IDK Global Education Fair (IGEF 2025), themed “The Future of International Education in Nigeria: Unlocking the Global University Opportunities for Nigerian Students.”
The event also featured the official unveiling of the IDK University Pathways International Study Centre and the NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) 2025, attracting educators, policymakers, international university representatives, students, and friends of the Managing Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of the IDK Group, Mrs. Chinwe Nweke.
According to the CEO, enrollment is on-going into the programme which is meant to bring international education closer home to students in the state and Southeast region.
Global education now near
She said, “For far too long, global education has felt distant—accessible only to a privileged few. But today, we are bridging that gap through the IDK-NCUK International Foundation Year Programme. This launch reminds us of what collaboration can achieve.”
“The NCUK IFY allows students in Anambra, the Southeast, and across Nigeria to begin their international education locally and progress seamlessly to leading universities in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries—with guaranteed admission.
“At this global education fair, students are interacting directly with representatives from about 16 global institutions. Parents are also finding clarity, networks, and trusted pathways for their children’s aspirations,” Nweke added.
Encouraging participants, she said: “To our students—ask questions, explore, and connect. This is your chance to dream bigger and see yourselves as global citizens.
To parents—IDK provides trusted, internationally recognized education right here in Anambra, preparing your children to study successfully abroad.”
She also called on school owners, education secretaries, and school managers to partner with IDK, noting that the NCUK partnership connects them to over 60 universities worldwide.
“By working with global partners and bringing international standards into our local community, we are proving that you don’t have to leave home before beginning your international education journey,” she said.
British High Commission
In a virtual presentation, Mark Smithson, Country Director of the Department of Business and Trade, British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, congratulated NCUK on the occasion of the opening of the IDK Learning Center
He indicated that the launch is a milestone marking a significant step forward in expanding access to world-class education pathways for students in Nigeria. :
”Through the NCUK International Foundation Year, learners now have a secure and proven route into leading UK universities, an opportunity that opens doors from undergraduate through to postgraduate study, pointing out that The United Kingdom remains one of the most sought-after study destinations globally, renowned for its academic excellence, cultural diversity, and career-enhancing opportunities”.
He assured families that students completing their International Foundation Year at accredited centers like IDK consistently progress to top-ranked UK institutions and successfully obtain the necessary student visas.
“Recent updates in UK immigration and visa policies continue to affirm the country’s commitment to welcoming international students. Clear and supportive visa pathways ensure that students and their families can plan with confidence, knowing that the UK values their contributions and is ready to support their academic journeys.
He declared that the opening of the IDK Learning Center brings these possibilities closer to home, empowering students in Anambra State to dream bigger and reach further. We celebrate this launch with optimism and pride, knowing it will shape futures, strengthen communities, and deepen the bonds between Nigeria and the UK. Congratulations once again to NCUK. May this partnership continue to flourish and inspire generations to come.
Milestone in NCUK’s expansion drive
Representing the CEO of NCUK, the Client Success Manager, Roche Weyer, described the unveiling of the IDK University Pathways International Study Centre in Awka as a milestone in NCUK’s global expansion.
“This is an exciting moment not only for IDK but also for NCUK. From Awka, students can now access the International Foundation Year Programme and obtain all necessary certifications,” Weyer said.
Speaking on study loan opportunities for students, Neelam Draniya, the Manager of Global Partnerships at Globcred, encouraged students who need study loans to inform the management of IDK-NCUK University Pathways International Study Centre in order to get all the details and procure loans with ease.
In his goodwill message, the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, commended Mrs. Nweke for her resilience and commitment to a vision she began nurturing over two decades ago.
He recalled that IDK was born in 1998, when she resigned from the federal civil service to establish the organisation. “We were the first generation of educated persons in our family, and our parents had high expectations. We wanted her to stay in the civil service and become a Permanent Secretary,” he recounted.
“But at 40, she called me in the UK to say she wanted to quit her job. I was perturbed but eventually consented. Today, seeing this dream blossom gives me joy.”
Foundation year as bridge
Prof. Chukwulobelu praised the UK International Foundation Year (IFY) as a crucial bridge between students’ secondary and university education abroad. “Having it here in Awka reduces the cost of studying in the UK by 70 to 80%. It helps students mature before travelling and equips them with the learning skills needed to excel in universities abroad,” he said.
Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, lauded IDK’s initiative, describing it as a timely solution to challenges faced by Nigerian youths seeking overseas education. “IDK is addressing a major challenge confronting our youths who desire foreign education. Many have been duped or defrauded by unregulated agents,” she noted.
“With the IDK-NCUK University Pathways International Study Centre now in Awka and the Southeast, that era is over. Children who wish to travel abroad will no longer be at the mercy of agents.”
Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, described her excitement as “an understatement.”
“When Mrs. Nweke came back to start IDK, she opened my eyes to many possibilities. Together, we launched the first online teachers’ conference in Anambra State—something we never imagined was possible,” she said.
“Her passion and creativity are amazing. IDK provides a real pathway to international studies. This indeed is the beginning of many beginnings.”
Landmark event
Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Emmanuel Anayo Okpalaeke, described the education fair as a landmark in Anambra’s education landscape.
“This centre will not only produce globally competitive graduates but will also serve as a hub for creativity, innovation, and excellence,” he said.
The fair featured sessions on immigration and visa updates, financing international education, and scholarship opportunities.
Participants—including secondary school students and graduates—interacted with IDK’s partner representatives and global education aggregators from the UK, Canada, South America, and Australia.
Institutions present included the University of Leicester, University of Kent, University of Bradford, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Sussex, University of the West of England, Lancaster University, St. George’s University, University of Alberta, University of Ottawa, Keele University, UNSW Sydney, MSM Unify, University of Law, among others.
Other notable participants were the Solution Innovation District, Activ8 Hub, and Jose Marie Academy.
The IDK Global Education Fair 2025 signaled a bold new chapter for Anambra’s education sector—positioning the state and the Southeast as a gateway for global learning opportunities and opening new doors for Nigerian students to access world-class universities from home.
