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The short answer
Most Nigerian universities collect fees through the student portal, which generates a payment reference, often a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR), for the exact amount. From the US you can either fund the student or a parent in Nigeria to pay that reference, or pay the university's naira account directly where the bursary accepts transfers; either way keep the invoice, the transfer receipt and the university's own receipt.
How Nigerian universities usually bill
Nigerian universities typically issue fees through the student's portal account, not through a bank account printed on a letter. The student logs in, selects the fee item and the portal generates a payment reference tied to that student and amount. Many institutions use Remita for this. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), for example, tells students in its April 2026 hostel guide to create a portal account with their registration number, generate a Remita RRR, pay it, confirm the payment on the dashboard and print the receipt.
The reference is what links the money to the student. A payment that arrives without it may sit unallocated while the bursary works out who it belongs to, so the reference matters more than the route the money takes to Nigeria.
Three ways to pay from the US
| Route | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Fund someone in Nigeria to pay the RRR | You send naira to the student or a parent; they pay the reference through their bank app, USSD or a bank branch | Ask for the portal receipt, not just a screenshot of a bank debit |
| Pay the university's naira account directly | Use a remittance app with bank deposit to the account the bursary names for the fee, with the student's name and matric or reference number | Only where the bursary confirms it accepts direct transfers and how it matches them |
| Pay by card on the portal, if offered | Where a portal offers card payment, a US card is charged in naira and converted by the card network | Card foreign transaction fees and the network's rate; confirm the portal accepts foreign cards before relying on it |
For most diaspora parents the first route is the simplest and most reliable, because the payment is made inside Nigeria exactly as the portal expects. Since 1 May 2026, licensed international money transfer operators must pay recipients in Nigeria in naira only, according to the CBN directive summarised by Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, so plan on naira arriving, not dollars.
Private and international programmes
Some private universities and programmes publish fees in dollars or have a domiciliary account. If the invoice is in dollars, ask the bursary in writing which account and currency it accepts, and whether a naira payment at the day's rate is acceptable. Do not rely on an account number sent by a third party; confirm it on the university's official site or with the bursary.
Getting the reference and amount right
- Ask the student to generate the invoice or RRR on the portal and send you a copy showing the amount, the fee item and the student's name and number.
- Check the session and semester on the invoice; a reference for the wrong session is a common reason for a payment not appearing.
- Send slightly ahead of the deadline. Many apps quote delivery in minutes, but compliance checks, weekends and bank holidays can add days.
- If you pay the university directly, put the student's name and number in the narration or reference field and send the bursary a copy of the receipt.
- Ask for the university's receipt once the payment shows on the portal.
Proof to keep on both sides
Keep three documents together: the university invoice or RRR slip, the US provider's receipt and the university's receipt or portal confirmation. The US provider's receipt must show the amount, the exchange rate, the fees, the amount received, the recipient and the date the money will be available (12 CFR 1005.31), and it carries the instructions for reporting an error. If the money never arrives, you have 180 days from the disclosed availability date to report it to the provider.
The US gift tax point
For US gift tax purposes, the IRS says tuition paid for someone is not a taxable gift, and the Form 709 instructions say the payment "must be made directly to the qualifying educational organization and it must be for tuition"; books, supplies, room and board are excluded. Money sent to a student or parent who then pays the school is a gift to that person, which counts toward the annual exclusion ($19,000 per recipient for 2026, per the IRS gift tax FAQ). The instructions summarised here do not settle how every foreign university is treated, so this is information, not advice; a tax preparer can confirm how your payment is treated.
Where Pryme fits
With a Pryme account you can hold dollars, convert to naira with Swap and send naira to the student or the university's Nigerian account; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Every transfer can produce a receipt, and verifiable receipts, built with VerifyDoc.ai, let a bursary confirm the receipt is genuine and unaltered. For school fees below university level, see paying Nigerian school fees from the US.
Questions people ask
Can I pay my child's Nigerian university fees directly from America?
Yes, either by funding someone in Nigeria to pay the portal reference or by sending naira to the university account the bursary confirms. The portal reference is what links the payment to the student.
What is a Remita RRR?
It is a payment reference generated for a specific fee on a portal that uses Remita. Paying that reference tells the institution exactly who paid and for what.
Will the university receive dollars if I send from the US?
Generally not through a remittance app. Under the CBN directive effective 1 May 2026, licensed money transfer operators pay recipients in Nigeria in naira.
Is paying Nigerian tuition a taxable gift in the US?
The IRS excludes tuition paid directly to a qualifying educational organisation. Money given to the student to pay the fees is treated as a gift to the student. Check your own case with a tax preparer.
Sources
- UNIZIK Student Affairs: hostel application process (Remita RRR steps, Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie: CBN directive to IMTOs, naira payouts from 1 May 2026 (Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- eCFR: 12 CFR 1005.31, disclosures for remittance transfers · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Instructions for Form 709 (2025), educational exclusion · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Frequently asked questions on gift taxes (reviewed 23 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFPB: What is a remittance transfer and what are my rights? (last reviewed 3 Oct 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.