I am Director of Teaching for the only ornithological research institute in West Africa since 2002 (the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, University of Jos, Nigeria). To date we have trained 49 Masters students (on competitive scholarship) : our degree is in conservation biology and is vetted each year by an external examiner from a European University (e.g. Groningen, Oxford, Edinburgh). Of the 49 graduates, 27% have completed or are doing PhDs at universities external to Nigeria (e.g. Oxford, Lund, Upsalla, Copenhagen, Canterbury NZ, Oslo, Cape Town, St Andrews) and further 12% PhDs at universities within Nigeria. Of 44 graduates for which I have information to 2012: 34% are doing PhDs, 25% funded research projects many of which will lead to PhDs, 14% teach in higher education and 5% at school level, and 7% each work for government and NGOs on conservation issues. All graduates except one remain working in Africa.