No fewer than 33 Nigerian students have secured full scholarships totalling $2.92 million to attend American universities and colleges for the 2024/2025 academic session.
These scholarships were awarded through the Opportunity Funds Programme of the United States Consulate General in Lagos.
The programme aims to increase access to U.S. higher education for highly qualified international students who have limited resources to cover the initial costs of attending a university in the United States.
“The 33 departing students — 10 undergraduate and 23 graduate students — will be studying a variety of subjects including biomedical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, earth and planetary sciences, organic and medicinal chemistry, and civil, construction, and environmental engineering, among others,” the Consulate announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Following a competitive selection process, the successful students received financial aid covering expenses involved in the college application process such as standardized tests, application fees, U.S. visa and SEVIS fees, and air travel to the United States.
EducationUSA advisers worked closely with the students through regularly scheduled meetings, seminars, and bootcamps, assisting them throughout the application process.
At a reception in Lagos honoring the US-bound students, Consul General Will Stevens encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunities American universities offer and become actively involved in various organizations and clubs to enrich their experience as international students.
“This Fall, you will join the over 17,000 Nigerian students studying in the United States. You have successfully navigated the daunting U.S. college and university admissions process and we are so excited for your future. You have excelled in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that you will continue that path of academic excellence,” Stevens told the departing students.
One notable scholar from the 2023 Opportunity Funds Programme, Chigozie Odo, received full funding for a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of South Carolina. His doctoral research will focus on immunotherapy to contribute to lasting solutions to cancer treatment.
Odo, who lost his father and sole breadwinner during his second year at university, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for covering the upfront costs of applying to U.S. universities through the Opportunity Funds Programme.
“My dream of studying in the United States, which seemed impossible, is now a reality,” he added.
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