September 16, (THEWILL) – Thousands of students attended the 21st Annual EducationUSA College and Career Fairs, this week in Abuja and Lagos, underlining once again the tremendous and enduring interest in Nigeria for American higher education.
Organised by the US Mission and featuring visiting representatives from 25 universities and colleges from across the United States, the September 13 Fair in Abuja and the September 15 Fair in Lagos, were augmented by talks by US experts and Nigerian US university alumni on college admissions and student visa application processes.
Declaring the college and career fair open in Lagos on Thursday, US Consul General, Will Stevens, said that America remains a leading destination for international students, noting the United States offers students an unrivalled educational experience, flexibility, and diversity.
Speaking on the theme, “Exploring Opportunities Post-Pandemic”, Consul General, Stevens, noted that the role of the US Mission in Nigeria, is to facilitate and build connections between the United States and Nigeria. He added that one of the best ways these connections are built, and mutual understanding is fostered, is through educational exchange.
“We are happy to provide Nigerian students, who wish to study in the United States a unique opportunity to learn about the diversity of the programs offered at various US educational institutions”, Consul General Stevens said.
Two days earlier, in Abuja, US Deputy Chief of Mission, David Greene, greeted students, parents, teachers and all 25 US university representatives, which included admissions officers from leading and diverse institutions such as Howard University, Drexel University, Pace University, University of Oregon, Iowa State University, and the University of Tennessee.
Meanwhile, in both cities, Counsellor of Public Affairs, Adnan Siddiqi, US Mission EducationUSA advisers, and Nigerian alumni of US universities joined the visiting US college admissions officers to speak about the benefits of American education and study abroad, and to answer questions about the college admissions process, standardised testing, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities.
Over the last two decades, EducationUSA College and Career Fairs, have resulted in an increased number of highly qualified Nigerian applicants to US institutions. Nearly 13,000 Nigerians are currently pursuing US graduate and undergraduate degrees across 1,000 US colleges and universities. Nigeria sends more students to US colleges and universities than any other country in Africa and is the eleventh largest source country worldwide of international students to the United States. The vast majority of these students, upon graduation, contribute positively to Nigeria’s public and private sectors and civil society when they return.
EducationUSA is a US Department of State network of over 425 international student advising centres in 178 countries and the official source of US Higher Education. There are five EducationUSA centres in Nigeria located at the US Embassy in Abuja, US Consulate General in Lagos, and at the American Corners in Ibadan, Calabar, and Kano.
