Nigerian Students Gets Scholarship Fund

Nigerian students have received over 4.6 million dollars’ worth of academic scholarships from higher institutions towards furtherance of their education this year.

Education USA has announced this at an orientation programme held at the United States Embassy, in Abuja to celebrate and guide students who have been successful in their applications.

The Deputy Chief of Mission who was present, Maria Brewer advised the students to be good ambassadors and representatives of Nigeria abroad.

“I would also like to recognise the US Mission’s Education USA Advising Centres, which have helped thousands of young Nigerians achieve their dreams to study in the United States. This year alone, advisees received numerous scholarships from several universities totalling over $4.6 million.

“According to the latest Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report, Nigeria experienced a remarkable increase in the number of students pursuing higher education in the United States. Almost 9,500 Nigerians are studying at more than 730 colleges and universities in the United States.

“Compared to the previous school year, nearly 20 per cent more Nigerians are enrolled at a U.S college or university. This rise fuelled, almost single-handedly, Africa’s overall student number increase of eight per cent. Nigeria is the top African source country and the 15th nation worldwide with students in the United States,” she said.

Simisola Afolayan of Zamani College Kaduna, among the beneficiaries grateful to Education USA, advised other hopefuls to “Embrace their area of interest. I enjoy reading and participating in my community. I believe in individualism. I would advise them to bask in the kind of person they are.”

The 130 students accepted will be attending institutions such as; University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College, Tufts University, Vassar College, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Kansas.