More students of Nigerian descent enrolled in higher institutions in the United States in the 2023/2024 academic year.
According to the 2024 Open Doors report on international education exchange, Nigeria was the seventh largest source of international students globally and the highest in Africa, with 20,029 enrollees.
The enrolment figures for Nigeria amounted to a 13.5 percent increase from the previous year for the West African nation.
The report published on Monday, was compiled by the US department of state, bureau of educational and cultural affairs, and the institute of international education.
Findings showed that the US saw a total intake of 1,126,690 foreign students in 2024 — an all-time high for international enrolment.
“Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to U.S. universities, enriching the educational experience for all students,” a statement from the US consulate in Nigeria reads.
The consulate said Nigerian scholars are known for their strong academic backgrounds and commitment to advanced education, with over 55 percent pursuing graduate-level studies in the US.
The statement added that the rise in Nigerian students reflects US commitment to quality education.
“It also highlights the importance of people-to-people connections that deepen understanding and strengthen bonds between Nigeria and the United States,” the consulate said.
INDIA OVERTAKES CHINA
For the first time since 2009, India overtook China on the ranking, with 331,602 Indian students pursuing higher education in the US, a 35 percent increase from the previous year.
Despite a four percent decline in students, China was the second leading country of origin and remained the “top-sending country” for undergraduates and non-degree students.
In Africa, Ghana recorded the largest percentage increase of 45 percent.
Other countries on the list include South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Canada, Taiwan, Nepal, and Brazil.
The rise in foreign students enrolment in the US comes amid visa restrictions in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
However, analysts worry that Donald Trump’s recent appointment of Stephen Miller as incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, could pose significant challenges for prospective international students.
Miller worked in the first Trump administration as a senior adviser and is famed for his extremist rhetoric on immigration.
President-elect Trump has also consistently taken a hardline stance on immigration, advocating stricter policies and reduced pathways for immigrants.
