By Oyekola Anuoluwapo
Despite the challenges posed by the scarcity of dollars, leading to a rise in tuition fees, the latest report from the Washington-based Institute of International Education (IIE) revealed a remarkable surge in the number of Nigerians pursuing studies in the United States.
the 2022/23 academic year, the count rose by an impressive 22.2%, reaching 17,640 students compared to the previous year’s 14,438.This growth outpaced the 12.3% increase observed in the preceding year, marking Nigeria as the fifth-highest contributor to the top 25 international students in the US.
The IIE report disclosed that the United States hosted 1.06 million international students during the academic year, experiencing a 12% surge—a growth rate unprecedented in over 40 years.
This encompassed students enrolled at US higher education institutions, those studying online from abroad, and those participating in Optional Practical Training.
, Nigeria stood as the lone African country among the top 10 nations with the highest student representation in the United States. Noteworthy leaders in this category included China (289,526), India (268,928), South Korea (43,847), Canada (27,876), and Vietnam (21,900).
unexpected increase in Nigerian students studying abroad is attributed to factors such as the uncertainties surrounding the previous presidential elections and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike last year.
Despite the considerable challenges posed by foreign exchange costs, these circumstances seemingly prompted many parents to opt for international education opportunities for their children.
Uzo, a professor of marketing and faculty director at Lagos Business School, highlighted these contributing factors
