Winifred Bosa.

About 10,674 Nigerians are studying at more than 730 colleges and universities in the United States, making Nigeria the leading source of African students in the United States and 14th nation worldwide .

U.S. Consul General F. John Bray disclosed this at the 2017 Pre-Departure Orientation Program for Nigerian students departing to attend various U.S. colleges and universities for the 2017-18 academic session which took place at United States Consulate General Lagos.

He said that according to the latest Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report, Nigeria has experienced a remarkable increase in the number of students pursuing higher education in the US.

The U.S. Consul General observed that this year alone, students within the Lagos Consulate District have received numerous scholarships from several U.S. universities totaling over $2 million adding that more are still trickling in by the day through the wonderful work of the EducationUSA advisors.

“Of particular importance to me today is that seven Nigerian students who received financial aid through our EducationUSA Opportunity Fund were granted full scholarships by various U.S. universities.”

“These seven students had their up-front costs of obtaining U.S. admission, including testing, application fees, and airfare covered by the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund, ” he noted.

John Bray pointed out that five of them received funding for their Ph.D studies while the other two would be pursuing undergraduate studies in America.

Expressing confidence that the students you would be the next generation of leaders and scholars, scientists and artists, he urged them to ensure  the continuity of Nigeria’s remarkable input in the global community.

“I urge you to be exceptional ambassadors for Nigeria and to take seriously your responsibilities to be good citizens and scholars, just as I wish you great success in your chosen academic fields and a fulfilling experience in the United States of America.”

The pre-departure orientation prepared the dozens of Nigerian students for their entry into American culture and as such enabled them to make the most of their U.S. educational experience.
They received a wide range of practical advice about U.S. culture and educational expectations to set you up for success, such as building positive relationships with professors and peers, time management, and balancing course workloads with a strong social and community life.
The event which was attended by students within the Lagos Consular District included interactive sessions on topics such as travel planning, adjusting to life in America, and F-1 visa rules for international students

The students are to  attend prestigious universities like Howard University, Syracuse University, Drexel University, University of Wisconsin in Madison, University of Texas at Dallas, Wellesley College, and Rochester Institute of Technology to pursue a variety of majors, including engineering, public health, computer science, business, chemistry, and economics both at undergraduate and graduate levels.