How to Send Your Transcript to WES from Nigeria: UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNN, UNIBEN Guide

The WES evaluation process for Nigerians breaks into two distinct phases: what WES does, and what your Nigerian university does. WES's internal processing — once documents are received — takes 7 to 35 business days. The university's portion can take 2 to 5 months for major federal institutions. The entire Express Entry ECA timeline is almost entirely determined by how fast your university moves.

What WES Requires from Nigerian Institutions

WES requires that transcripts be sent directly from the issuing institution. You cannot hand-carry your own transcript, even in a sealed envelope — WES will reject it. The document must arrive either as a physical sealed envelope (with the registrar's signature across the flap and the official institutional stamp) or through a WES-recognized electronic submission system.

For Nigerian universities, virtually all submissions are physical. The university prints your transcript, seals it in an envelope, stamps across the seal, and dispatches it to WES via DHL, FedEx, or similar international courier. Your WES reference number — assigned when you create your WES application — must appear on the outside of the envelope and in any accompanying correspondence. Without it, the package cannot be matched to your file.

WES also requires your degree certificate to be sent directly from the institution or as a certified copy authenticated according to WES guidelines. In practice, most Nigerian universities include both the transcript and the degree certificate in a single dispatch.

Institution-by-Institution Timelines and Procedures

University of Lagos (UNILAG): The UNILAG Examinations and Records Department manages transcript requests. You initiate the request by visiting the registry in person (or through a proxy) and paying a processing fee — currently in the range of ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 depending on the level of processing requested. The standard timeline is 2 to 4 months for domestic dispatch, but delays from departmental verification and bursary clearance are common. Physical follow-up every 2 to 3 weeks is the norm. Some graduates report that hiring a professional transcript coordination service reduces the timeline by 4 to 6 weeks through persistent in-person follow-up.

University of Ibadan (UI): The Records and Archive section at UI handles transcript requests. The process is initiated through the UI alumni portal or a physical request at the registry. Preparation timeline runs 2 to 5 months. UI's records for graduates from the 1990s and early 2000s often require retrieval from physical archives, which adds significant time if your file has been moved off-site.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU): OAU has an online request portal for transcripts, but its practical reliability varies. Many graduates find the online request disappears into a queue without acknowledgment, requiring a follow-up visit to the registry in Ile-Ife. Timeline: 2 to 4 months, with faster resolution for recent graduates whose records are fully digitized.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): UNN's transcript office requires a written application addressed to the Registrar, along with photocopies of your degree certificate and student ID. The process is largely manual. Timeline: 3 to 5 months. The UNN registrar's office is known for slow email responsiveness; physical visits by a proxy in Nsukka are often the only way to move a stalled request.

University of Benin (UNIBEN): UNIBEN processes transcript requests through the Academic Affairs office. Initiation can be done by submitting a formal letter to the registrar, accompanied by a fee. Timeline: 2 to 4 months. UNIBEN has made some progress in digitizing records for recent graduates (post-2010), which can shorten the retrieval phase.

State Universities and Private Universities: State institutions generally run 1 to 3 months. Private universities (Covenant, Babcock, American University of Nigeria) often have functional online portals and can complete the process in 2 to 6 weeks.

Polytechnics (HND): Federal and state polytechnics handling HND transcript requests typically run 1 to 3 months, though physical follow-up is usually necessary.

The Transcript Submission Flow: What Actually Happens

Understanding the internal path your request takes helps you identify where it is stuck:

1. Registry receives your request — the file is logged and assigned a reference
2. Bursary clearance — the registry confirms you owe no outstanding fees to the institution; pre-digital financial records can slow this step for older graduates
3. Departmental verification — the faculty confirms your grades and program details; for older records, this may require retrieving physical files
4. Transcript production — the central registry prints the official document
5. Signing and sealing — the registrar or an authorized official signs and seals the envelope
6. Dispatch — the sealed envelope is couriered internationally to WES

Most delays occur at steps 2 and 3. If you are following up, ask specifically which step the request is currently at, rather than asking the general question "is my transcript ready?"

Getting Your WES Reference Number onto Every Document

When you register on the WES website and start an application, you receive a reference number (format: WES1234567). This number must be written on the outside of the transcript envelope, included in any cover letter the university sends, and referenced in all correspondence. If the university dispatches a package without this number, WES will receive it, be unable to match it to a file, and eventually return or discard it — while your application status remains "Documents Not Received."

Print your WES reference number and address clearly and give them to the registry or your proxy in writing. Ask the university to confirm the number has been written on the dispatch envelope before it goes to the courier.

After the Transcript Arrives at WES

Once WES confirms receipt of all required documents, the evaluation clock starts. Standard processing is 15 to 20 business days. You will receive an email notification when the evaluation report is complete. The report is added to your WES account, and you can share it with IRCC when creating your Express Entry profile.

Keep a copy of the DHL or FedEx tracking number from the university dispatch. If WES shows "Documents Not Received" after the courier confirms delivery, you can use the tracking number to identify the delivery date and raise a query with WES directly.

Starting your WES evaluation the moment you begin Express Entry preparation — before booking your IELTS, before calculating your CRS score, before anything else — is the single most important piece of tactical advice for Nigerian applicants. Everything else can be expedited. A university registrar cannot be rushed beyond what the institution's process allows.

The Nigeria → Canada Express Entry Guide includes institution-specific transcript request letter templates, a proxy briefing document, and a follow-up schedule for each major Nigerian university.

See more Canada guides →