By Godfrey AKON
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills, has disclosed that Nigerian students received over $30 million or N47.7 billion in financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships from US institutions in 2023.
Mills stated this while delivering remarks at the 2024 Education USA College Fair, organized by the US Embassy in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The US Ambassador said the financial aid was “awarded to students advised by Education USA Nigeria, with 73 students supported through the Opportunity Funds Program in Abuja and Lagos.”
He also disclosed that more Nigerians study in the US than any other African country, citing a recent data, which said more than 17,600 Nigerian students studied at over 970 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2023.
According to him, Texas was the preferred destination for most Nigerian students, adding that the Embassy’s annual College Fairs have significantly increased the number of excellent applicants to U.S. institutions and boosted financial aid and scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students.
“Many of those students attend a diverse range of institutions in the United States, from small liberal arts colleges to large state universities. Today, we have assembled an equally diverse group.
“Representatives from 50 U.S. colleges and universities are here, and we are thrilled you made the trip. Those of us who live here are well acquainted with the talent, intellect, and energy of Nigeria’s students,” he said.
The event, which was well attended by prospective students from elite schools within Abuja and it’s environs, was described by the Ambassador as a representation of “the strong people-to-people ties between the United States and Nigeria.”
“It is wonderful to see the flourishing interest from Nigerians considering studying in the United States and from the representatives of U.S. colleges and universities who travel to Nigeria, to meet with prospective students.
“Our Embassy-sponsored College Fair provides you all with a great opportunity to obtain current information on studying in the United States and to discuss career possibilities,” he said.
Mills stated that the US looks forward to continuing its partnership for education with Nigeria, stressing that “access to quality education is essential for equitable economic growth, improving health indicators, advancing gender equality, and promoting socioeconomic progress.
“A prosperous and stable Nigeria benefits both Nigeria and the United States, and it all starts with education. Studying in the United States also creates new friendships that will last a lifetime.
“You will experience the tapestry of American culture and hopefully get to understand us as Americans better. And you will share your country’s rich and vibrant culture with your new American friends whose horizons will broaden as a result.”
The annual education fair in Nigeria is intended to promote U.S higher education to students in the country by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in America.
Earlier in an interview with our correspondent, the International Admissions Counsellor of Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Abigail Zwart, said her institution offers limitless admission opportunities for prospective students from Nigeria.
Zwart noted that Nigeria was one of the top African student population represented on the campus of Calvin University, saying the institution has lots of admission spaces for Nigerian students.
Speaking on the strengths of the university, she described the institution as a world class christian university whose strength is in its size and faith.
“Our top programmes right now are Engineering, Education, Psychology, Computer Science and Nursing; all of our programmes are excellent but obviously those top five are the most popular right now,” she said.
