By Adedapo Adesanya
The United States has announced that Nigerian students’ enrollment at colleges and universities rose to 20,029 in the 2023/2024 academic year, marking a 13.5 per cent increase from the previous year.
According to the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange, this number places Nigeria as Africa’s leading source of international students and 7th globally.
The report reveals that US colleges and universities hosted a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students this year, marking an all-time high for international enrollment.
This milestone aligns with the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report, the leading benchmark for international educational exchange in the United States.
According to a statement from the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria, “Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to US universities, enriching the educational experience for all students.
“Nigerian scholars are known for their strong academic backgrounds and commitment to advanced education, with over 55 per cent pursuing graduate-level studies in the United States.”
“The growth in Nigerian students choosing to study in the U.S. reflects both the strong U.S. commitment to high-quality education and the growing interest of Nigerian scholars in international academic experiences. It also highlights the importance of people-to-people connections that deepen understanding and strengthen bonds between Nigeria and the United States,” it added.
The report also found that Sub-Saharan Africa’s student mobility grew by 13 per cent in 2023/24, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing region for the second year, following an 18 per cent increase in 2022/23.
“The influx of Nigerian students is a testament to the robust educational ties between the U.S. and Nigeria, the report added.
The Open Doors Report, an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was released at the beginning of International Education Week, an initiative of the US Department of State and the US. Department of Education.
The week-long celebration is dedicated to promoting global awareness and inspiring future leaders worldwide to study in the United States.
Dipo Olowookere