More
than 303 Nigerian students from the 17 states of southern Nigeria have received
no less than $7.5 million in full or partial scholarships from 225 American
universities and colleges to study in the United States for the 2019-2020
academic session.
Acting United States Consul General Osman Tat disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday during the 2019 Education USA pre-departure orientation for students who have received offers of admission and scholarships to attend U.S. colleges and universities this fall.
Noting
that the U.S. remains a top destination for international students, Acting
Consul General Tat explained that the list of acceptances for Nigerian students
for the upcoming academic year has been quite impressive, cutting across many
of the 50 U.S. states.
“I
congratulate each one of you on your tremendous success. This is a very
important step in your life. I encourage you to make the most out of your time
in the United States to acquire the requisite skills and knowledge needed to
support Nigeria’s development,” Tat told the group of U.S.-bound students.
The students have been accepted for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at top-notch U.S. institutions ranging from Ivy League universities, liberal arts colleges, women’s colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to community colleges.
They
include Stanford University, The George Washington University, Johns Hopkins
University, Purdue University, Tufts University, Boston University, Emory
University, and Howard University, among many others.
The
pre-departure orientation is intended to assist students to prepare for their
move from Nigeria to attend a college or university in the United States. The event included interactive sessions on
topics such as travel planning, adjusting to life in America, safety on campus,
and F-1 visa rules for international students.
Participants
also had the opportunity to meet with students currently studying in the United
States who offered tips on how to prepare for the U.S. academic, social, and
cultural environment.
Among
the departing students are 13 EducationUSA Opportunity Fund grantees —10
undergraduate and three graduate students, with full scholarships — who
received financial aid to cover the up-front cost of obtaining admission.
Annually,
through the Opportunity Fund Program, the U.S. Consulate’s EducationUSA
Advising Centre assists talented low-income students who are good candidates
for admission to U.S. colleges and universities, by funding their application
process.
According
to the latest Open Doors Report, published annually by the Institute of
International Education, Nigeria is the 13th highest sending country of
international students to the U.S., with about 12, 693 Nigerians currently
studying in the United States.
EducationUSA
is a U.S. Department of State network of over 425 international
student-advising centers in more than 175 countries that promotes U.S. higher
education to students around the world. It offers accurate, comprehensive, and
current information about opportunities to study at one of the over 4,700
accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
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