Nigerian students are pursuing higher education in the United States in unprecedented numbers, despite the economic challenges posed by the foreign exchange crisis. According to a new report by the Washington-based Institute of International Education (IIE), the number of Nigerian students enrolled at US colleges and universities increased by 22% to reach 17,640 in the 2022/23 academic year, up from 14,438 in the previous year.
This makes Nigeria the only African country among the top ten sources of international students in the US, and the eleventh largest worldwide. China, India, South Korea, Canada, and Vietnam are the top five countries sending students to the US, respectively.
The report, which is based on data from more than 2,000 US institutions, also shows that the US hosted 1.06 million international students in the 2022/23 academic year, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. This is the fastest growth rate in more than 40 years, according to the IIE.
The surge in Nigerian students in the US comes amid a severe foreign exchange crisis that has seen the naira depreciate by over 50% against the dollar since June 2022, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) merged all forex exchange windows into the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. The gap between the official market rate and the parallel market rate has also widened significantly, making it more expensive for Nigerians to pay for foreign tuition, which is not denominated in naira.
According to figures from the CBN, Nigerians spent $1.38 billion on international education from January 2022 to September 2022, representing a huge revenue loss for the Nigerian education system.
So why are Nigerian students still flocking to the US despite the economic hurdles? One possible reason is the quality and reputation of the US education system, which offers a wide range of academic programs, research opportunities, and facilities. Another reason is the availability of scholarships, grants, and financial aid from various sources, such as the US government, private foundations, and the institutions themselves.
According to the US Embassy in Nigeria, Nigerian students received more than $28 million in scholarships and financial assistance from US institutions in the 2022/23 academic year. The embassy also said that after Texas, the top receiving states for Nigerian students were Illinois, New York, Georgia, and Massachusetts.
The US Embassy in Nigeria has been promoting educational opportunities in the US through various initiatives, such as the EducationUSA program, which provides guidance and resources for prospective students, and the Opportunity Funds program, which assists high-achieving, low-income students with the costs of applying to US colleges and universities.
The embassy also said that it is committed to facilitating visa processing for Nigerian students and that it has issued more than 8,000 student visas in the 2022 fiscal year, a 37% increase from the previous year.
The increase in Nigerian students in the US reflects the strong ties and mutual benefits between the two countries, according to the embassy. “The US Mission in Nigeria congratulates the latest cohort of Nigerian students who have received offers of admission to attend at least one of the over 1,000 US colleges and universities. We are proud of your achievements and hope you will take full advantage of the quality education offered in the United States,” the embassy said in a statement.
The statement also encouraged more Nigerian students to consider studying in the US, saying that “there is no better place than the United States to pursue higher education, whether for undergraduate or graduate studies.”
The US is not the only destination for Nigerian students seeking international education, however. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, other popular countries for Nigerian students include the United Kingdom, Ghana, Canada, and Malaysia.
The trend of Nigerian students seeking education abroad also raises questions about the quality and capacity of the domestic education system, which has been plagued by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, low standards, and frequent strikes by academic staff.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, estimated at 10.5 million in 2018. The bank also said that only 66% of 15-24-year-olds are literate and that the learning outcomes and skills acquisition of Nigerian students are low.
The Nigerian government has been trying to address these challenges by increasing the budget allocation for education, implementing reforms and policies, and partnering with the private sector and development partners. However, the impact of these efforts has been limited by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the academic calendar and forced many schools to close or switch to online learning.
Despite the difficulties, many Nigerian students remain optimistic and determined to pursue their educational goals, both at home and abroad. For those who choose to study in the US, they hope to gain not only a degree but also a valuable experience that will enrich their lives and careers.
Source: Business Insider Africa
