The United States Consulate, situated in Lagos, on Wednesday established an Education USA Advisory Centre in Ibadan to give opportunities to Nigerian students who want to study in America.
Oyomesioro reports that the centre was commissioned by Mr Stephen Ibelli, the Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate and Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, at American Corner in Ibadan.
Ibelli said: “We are here today in Ibadan working with the commissioner for Education on promoting education and studying in the USA.
“While stating that more than 14,000 Nigerians were studying in America, he said the quality and high standard of American education would assist them in helping their country with wonderful skills and knowledge.
Ibelli said the centre offers advisory and aid services to students to enable them to understand the US education procedure so that they can apply to American universities.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye relayed his gratitude to the US government for drawing this opportunity to Ibadan and her environs, adding that it was the first out of the more four service centres in Nigeria.
“It is going to be an education advisory service centre for students in Oyo State and the entire Southwest who may want to study in universities in America.”A lot of our students have been denied a visa because they didn’t know what to do.
“So this will be the first point of call for every student who wants to travel to the US and that is the first advantage that we have here. They don’t have to go to Lagos again; they can do it here.
“When they have all the information and equip themselves with it, they can now apply for their visa in Lagos or Abuja.
“Another thing is that this will allow us to benefit from the American government’s educational programmes, particularly in terms of getting scholarships from their universities, especially for our straight A’s students wanting to go to the university straight from secondary school.
“Even those who may want to proceed for post-graduate studies too can benefit from scholarships in American universities,” he said.