The United States of America is offering prospective Nigerian students wishing to study in American institutions of higher learning scholarships and grants worth $3m (approximately N474m).


This is part of incentives on offer at the ongoing 12th edition of the annual College and Career Fair organised by the US Embassy Education Advising Centre, Abuja.


The US Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria, James Mc Anulty, stated this at the fair which ended on Thursday.


According to him, the Embassy’s College and Career Fair gives participants a great opportunity to obtain valuable and current information on studying in the US and on career choices.


He said, “During the 2011 to 2012 academic year; we anticipate that Nigerian students participating in our Educational Advising Center will receive nearly $3m in financial aid and scholarships – quite an impressive feat.”


The envoy was delighted that institutions of higher learning in US had remained popular among Nigerian students.


According to him, this is why the Institute of International Education said Nigeria sends more students to the US than any other country in sub-Saharan Africa.


He added that the beneficiaries not only contributed to the diversity of America’s academic institutions, but also made lasting contributions to the Nigerian society when they returned home after their studies.


He said Nigeria had over 6,500 students studying at over 733 institutions in all 50 states of the US and the District of Columbia.


He also said Texas was the most popular state in America for Nigerians.


The envoy said, “Our annual college and career fairs have directly contributed to the increase in the number of excellent Nigerian applicants to US institutions, as well as increased financial aid and scholarships for Nigerians students.”


Representatives from 20 US universities took part in the fair.


Abel Philip, an indigent student from Kogi State, who took part in a previous edition of the fair, won a scholarship worth over $57,118 to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the US.


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