The United States Embassy in Nigeria has provided financial aid and scholarships amounting to N23.2 billion to Nigerian students studying in the U.S. in 2022.
This was revealed by Adnan Siddiqi, the Counsellor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, during the opening of the 22nd annual U.S. Embassy and Education USA College Fair, EducationUSA.
These scholarships and financial aid were awarded to students who received guidance from EducationUSA. Siddiqi emphasized that the fair serves as a platform for providing information on studying in the U.S. and exploring various career paths.
Siddiqi stated, ‘In the past year alone, nearly $30 million (23.2 billion naira) in financial aid and scholarships were granted to students advised by EducationUSA.’
US awards scholarships to over 14,400 Nigerian students
He also highlighted that Mission Nigeria issued over 9,000 student visas in the previous year, marking a remarkable 405.3% increase in visa issuance.
Among the top states receiving Nigerian students after Texas are Illinois, New York, Georgia, and Massachusetts.
Currently, there are more than 14,400 Nigerian students studying in various U.S. institutions. These students are enrolled in 973 institutions located across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Siddiqi pointed out that Nigeria sends more students to the United States than any other African country, citing a recent report.
He said, ‘It is worth noting that Nigeria sends more students to the United States than any other African country.
According to the latest data available, over 14,400 students are currently pursuing their studies in over 973 institutions, spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. And if you are curious about the most popular state, it is none other than Texas.’
He attributed the increase in the number of Nigerian students studying in the U.S. to the annual fair.
Siddiqi remarked, ‘Our annual college fairs have played a pivotal role in boosting the number of outstanding applicants to U.S. institutions, as well as in securing additional 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 private colleges to large state universities.
