Africa’s top-ranked country

Africa’s top-ranked country in the world for international student enrollment in the United States is Nigeria.

Nigeria is now the seventh-largest source of international students from Africa to enroll in the United States.

The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Institute of International Education (IIE) published the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, which states as much.

Significant increases in Nigerian student enrollment are highlighted in the report, demonstrating the close academic linkages between Nigeria and the United States.

In 2023–2024, Nigerian students enrolled in U.S. colleges and institutions totaled 20,029, a significant 13.5% rise over the previous year, according to the data.

With a 13% rise in student enrollment in the United States for the 2023–2024 academic year, the report also offers insights into broader trends in student mobility from Sub-Saharan Africa.
After an 18% gain the year before, this is the second year in a row that growth has occurred.

According to the report, “Sub-Saharan Africa continued to be the fastest-growing region for the second year in a row, with student mobility increasing by 13% in 2023–2024.”

This increase emphasizes even more how important Nigerian students are to the rise of international student enrollment in the United States as a whole.

Things you should be aware of

Nigerians are the most prosperous and educated immigrant community in the United States, according to the country.

Speaking about the noteworthy accomplishments of Nigerians around the world, Shaun Jameel Gavin, Senior Advisor for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, gave this recognition.
Nigerians are successful in a variety of fields, such as education, health, technology, and the arts, he said, and he attributes this to a larger culture of excellence, hard work, and perseverance.

Additionally, Gavin called for Nigerians to band together in the pursuit of civil liberties and human rights in order to support both the nation’s growth and the advancement of Africa as a whole.

In order to promote a shared identity based on respect and honor, he emphasized the significance of overcoming the differences based on race, religion, and ethnicity that have traditionally caused the country to become less united.