By YANGE IKYAA

TheUS Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has hosted pre-departure orientations for Nigerian students who will soon depart for study in the United States.

According to a statement from the US Embassy in Abuja, approximately 700 students are benefiting this year from the US Mission’s EducationUSA advising services in Nigeria, including 73 Opportunity Funds recipients.

EducationUSA is a network of over 430 international student advising centers which are supported by the US Department of State across the world and provide information and guidance on the US higher education admissions process. The EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program assists highly qualified students, who are likely to be awarded full financial aid from US colleges and universities, but lack the financial means to cover their pre-US arrival costs, such as application fees, test fees, and international airfare.

Last year, over 14,000 Nigerian students were enrolled in over 1,000 US higher education institutions. Worldwide, Nigeria is the 10th largest contributor of foreign students to the United States.

The acting deputy chief of mission in Nigeria, Rolf Olson; counselor for public affairs, Adnan Siddiqi; and Lagos public affairs officer, Joseph Kruzich, congratulated the students and wished them well.

In Abuja, Mr. Olson expressed his hope that the students will “enhance Nigerian infrastructure and society as future doctors, entrepreneurs, engineers, politicians, and so much more,” and that “they will share their knowledge and skills with their own communities in Nigeria upon their return.”

Then, in Lagos, Mr. Kruzich urged the students to take advantage of all the opportunities American universities have to offer and become actively involved in the many organizations and clubs that will enrich what he called “your experience as a foreign student.”