Nigerian students’ enrolment at United States (U.S.) colleges and universities rose to 20,029 in 2023/2024, a 2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange has indicated.
The figure marked a 13.5 per cent increase from the previous year, placing Nigeria as Africa’s leading source of international students and seventh globally.
The report released on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja revealed that U.S. colleges and universities host a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students this year.
This also marked 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 U.S.
Nigeria, with 20,029 students, reinforces its position as the top sending country from Africa and the seventh largest globally.
Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to U.S. 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.
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 Open Doors Report is an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
It was released at the beginning of International Education Week, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
This week is dedicated to promoting global awareness and inspiring future leaders worldwide to study in the United States.
