The EducationUSA says the relationship between Nigeria and the USA in the area of Education has strengthened the bilateral ties between both countries.
The EducationUSA centre made the assertion when over one 1500 participants converged on Abuja Nigeria’s capital for the 21st Edition of the COLLEGE FAIR organised by the EducationUSA Advising Centre of the U.S. Embassy, in Nigeria.
The college fair, with the theme: “Exploring Opportunities, Post Pandemic, ” aimed at promoting the US education by providing students and parents in Nigeria with information and counsel for study Universities and colleges in USA.
EducationUSA centre provides outreach to Nigerian Secondary Schools, Universities and other Institutions.
Participants are also provided with guidance on the US College application process, standardised testing, student visa requirements, and pre-departure orientation.
At the fair, the Public Affairs Counselor, Mr. Adnan Siddiqi said the College Fairs offer opportunities for students and parents to gather information from a number of colleges, universities and military services in US Universities.
He said; “We have had this fair many years in Nigeria to provide educational opportunities towards many around the world; as we can including West Africa, after Nigeria this fair will take place in Ghana, this shows that it’s an international efforts; we really welcome international students in the USA, because we take that diversity and inclusivity as a good thing to have in American society. We benefit from all the talent and brain power, creative efforts that Nigerian students bring to American campuses. So it is a way of building bridges of understanding and culture between the USA and Nigeria.”
According to Mr. Siddiqi, every country has educational challenges, but the difference is how they manage it.
“Every country has educational challenges, it is not just Nigeria or Africa, even in USA, we have challenges of what are the topic to provide to a student, what are the skills they need to build in order to get jobs, well paid jobs as adult. This a dialogue that is currently taking place in the USA, we have parents, teachers, civil society organisations, government officials and NGOs having discussions on how to make American education system better and more inclusive for everyone involved. We are not different from Nigeria, it’s just that we have people working on that issue to the extent that we can provide experience to Nigerian educators. We are willing to do that, and we want Nigerian student to come and study in the USA and come back to Nigeria and be part of that education reform dialogue,” he explained.
Also speaking, the Director Centre for Global Engagement, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Bonnie Bissonettes said; “Working here (Nigeria) is very exciting, because of the opportunities the fair present, my university feels having Nigerian students in our campus and our community really enriches our community and makes it stronger. At UMBC, we are very competitive, we don’t have any specific admission requirement, and something like a GPA of 3.75 will make you very strong and visible for scholarship. We do have scholarship for international students with a GPA of 3.75.”
One of the Parents at the fair, Mr. Donatus Anumba, explained why his child should study in the US.
He said; “I decided to send my child to study in the US, where there will be better opportunities for her to read, where there wouldn’t be any interruption and distraction in her studies, so that she will go and study and come out at the appropriate time.”
A prospective student, Bethel Uwenyi shares her view about the fair.
Uwenyi said; “Coming here is a privilege and an opportunity for me, I see it as once in a life time opportunity, coming here has helped me to learn a lot on what I need to know about my scholarship’’
Twenty-five U.S.-based institutions were present to provide information and necessary guidance to participants.
The fair featured undergraduate and a graduate session for prospective parents and students considering academic study in the United States of America.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
