Nigerian-Canadian Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors’ Basketball Operations President, to receive Canada’s top honor as part of the Order of Canada.
The Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor, recognizes people who excel in service to the country, improve the lives of others, and have a positive influence on it. Among the 85 individuals who were recently appointed by Governor General Mary Simon are Masai Ujiri, who is renowned for his outstanding accomplishments both on and off the basketball court as the president of the Raptors and as a humanitarian.
Note: In 2020, Masai confirmed his Canadian citizenship and possession of a Canadian passport.
As one of several people of Nigerian ancestry who have immigrated to Canada, Ujiri, a native of Bournemouth, England and a Nigerian citizen, is one of several people who immigrated to Canada. He used to be the general manager and executive vice president of the Denver Nuggets in the United States.
Among new Canadian permanent residents (PRs), Nigeria ranked fourth in terms of country of citizenship. The number of Nigerians moving to Canada last year was 22,085 (5.05 %). According to Statistics Canada data, Nigeria is the sixth most frequently reported country of birth among recent immigrants to Canada (between 2016 and 2021).
A number of factors contribute to the recent rise in Nigerian immigration to Canada, including the increased number of PR immigration routes available to residents of that country.
Federal Skilled Workers Program
Immigrants from Nigeria who seek admission to Canada can apply for the FSWP. Applicants can obtain Canadian permanent residency through this immigration program only if they meet the following criteria. The following requirements must be met by future FSWP applicants:
- Have one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in a skilled occupation under NOC skill levels 0, A, or B within the last decade.
- Demonstrate language proficiency in English/French equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
- Hold a Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or a foreign credential accompanied by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
- Score at least 67 points on IRCC’s six immigration selection factors.
- Provide proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and their family in Canada (Proof of Funds).
IRCC intends to accept 109,020 Express Entry (Federal High Skilled) applicants for permanent residence in Canada in 2019 in accordance with the 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan.
Provincial Nominee Program
Eleven of Canada’s thirteen provincial and territorial governments run PNPs that are open to Nigerian people seeking immigration.
It is important to note that Quebec and Nunavut do not operate PNPs like the rest of Canada.
The immigration programs in Canada empower each province and territory to focus on and invite potential immigrants who align well with their specific economic and demographic requirements and aspirations.
For immigration candidates from Nigeria, as well as other countries eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), there are various ways to utilize the PNP when seeking permanent residency in Canada.
Firstly, eligible candidates can directly apply for Canadian immigration through a specific province or territory’s PNP. This allows them to showcase their skills and qualifications that match the region’s needs.
Furthermore, applicants who apply to the three federal programs under the Express Entry system, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), can benefit from Canada’s PNPs if they receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination. Local governments review the federal pool of Express Entry candidates and may nominate those who align with their region’s requirements, providing an additional pathway to Canadian permanent residency.
PNP applicants who submit an Express Entry application to immigrate to Canada will receive an additional 600 CRS points. This substantial point boost practically guarantees PNP applicants an ITA for Canadian permanent residency in an upcoming IRCC Express Entry draw.
