18/09/2025
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If you're a Nigerian student hoping to relocate to the UK after your studies, this post is for you.
I got my Global Talent Visa (GTV) a day after my graduation. My brother, Stephen got his two days before completing NYSC.
Here's exactly how we built our profiles from scratch.
What is the Global Talent Visa?
The Global Talent Visa is for the brightest tech talent worldwide to work in the UK's digital sector. It's classified as tier 1 - basically the best visa you can have as an immigrant in the UK.
The only restrictions? You can't become a professional sportsman or access public funds. Everything else is open to you - same benefits as citizens or ILR holders.
There are 3 endorsement bodies:
1. Academic/Research,
2. Arts/Culture and
3. Digital Technology.
We went the Digital Tech route.
Digital Tech has 2 paths:
โข Technical applicants - devs, designers, engineers (you build tech)
โข Business applicants - marketers, product managers, founders (you grow tech businesses)
I went business, my brother went technical. Both work.
The Reality: Start Building Your Profile NOW
Building strong evidence takes years. The best time to start? While you're still in uni. Don't wait until after graduation like most people.
Here's My 10-Step Blueprint:
1. Get a High-Value Skill
Techies: Product designer, Software developer, AWS, AI/ML, cybersecurity
Business folks: Product management, growth marketing, data analysis
Where: Coursera, Udemy, AltSchool Africa, freeCodeCamp
But don't just collect certificates - build real projects.
2. Gain Work Experience (Even in School)
โข Remote internships - RemoteOK, We Work Remotely, LinkedIn โข Freelancing - Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal
โข Side projects - apps, blogs, YouTube channels You need proof you've contributed to real projects.
3. Speaking Engagements (Aim for 3+) Start small:
Tech talks in your school Go local: Speak at meetups Think bigger: Online conferences No local meetups? Start one! That's what I did.
4. Get Media Recognition
This is where most people struggle but it's crucial. Tech Nation wants nationally and internationally recognized talent. Reach out to tech blogs, share your story as a Nigerian student building cool stuff.
5. Contribute to Open Source (Technical Path)
Fix bugs in popular GitHub projects (React, Django, etc.) Look for "good first issue" labels Aim for 10 quality pull requests = strong evidence
6. Mentor & Teach Others
Offer mentoring at universities, colleges, schools Post on LinkedIn/Twitter about wanting to mentor Get public feedback - LinkedIn recommendations, social media posts with accessible links.
7. Write & Get Published
Goal: 3-5 articles on major platforms. Every problem you solve, share it! You're not alone in struggling. Don't just blog personally - get published on Medium, Dev.to, Hashnode where people will see it.
8. Document Everything
Keep detailed records of projects, problems solved, contributions made Make it measurable wherever possible
9. Find an Accountability Partner
This journey is long. Find someone with the same goal. Check in weekly, share progress, keep each other motivated.
10. Get the Complete Guide
I've documented the entire application process: Getukglobaltalentvisa.com
My Honest Advice:
Start NOW, not after graduation. Focus on publicly verifiable evidence. Quality over quantity - 3 great achievements beat 10 mediocre ones.
I got mine the day after graduation, Stephen Bukola Joseph got his before NYSC ended. If we can do it from Nigeria, so can you.
The key?
Start early and stay consistent.
Questions?
Drop them in the comments.
Ready to start?
Get the complete guide: Getukglobaltalentvisa.com
Abiodun Ayobami
