In almost every part of the world, Nigeria inclusive, the number of people who desire education, especially at the tertiary level keeps increasing. On the contrary, not many Nigerians can afford to pay for the quality of education they desire, hence, they look around for Scholarships for Nigerian Students.

The search for quality education becomes imperative because education remains very important in this age and time. When a person has good education, the mind is broadened and one is better prepared for every facet of life.
In Nigeria, a country that places a high value on higher education, there seems to be inadequate higher institutions for the teeming number of potential students. The problem becomes compounded because many parents want their children to secure a place in the government-owned institutions due to their relatively cheap school fees.
The inability of these government-owned institutions to absorb every applicant has encouraged the rise of several privately owned institutions. However, these institutions do not come cheap. The fees charged are on the high side for most parents who do not have access to much funds.
The scenario above is what prompts many students to look for opportunities of studying abroad especially on scholarship and funding.
It is however important to note that studying abroad could be quite complicated and difficult. It could get so frustrating for others especially because there are a lot of individuals and organization who claim to know about studying abroad and exploit these innocent students and their parents.
This article is designed to help you discover the numerous Scholarships for Nigerian Students so that your dream of studying abroad would become a reality.

A number of scholarships are available for Nigerian Students. Some of them are sponsored by government agencies and NGOs, while others are sponsored by individuals and higher institutions.
To benefit from these scholarships, students sometimes have to register for a particular course, apply to a particular institution or. Some of the scholarships cater for the tuition, accommodation and others even pay for student’s transportation to and from Nigeria
Even though the criteria for these scholarships are different, one would be expected to pass some foreign exams such as TOEFL, GMAT and GRE (depending on one’s desired course and country of destination).
In the quest to study abroad, the United State of America provides a safe landing for Nigerian students, especially because several of their universities offer scholarships. Apart from that, USA is home to some of the best universities in the world.
There is evidence to show that in 2017 alone, over a hundred and forty (140) Nigerian students have been awarded scholarships to the tune of over six million dollars ($6 million) from various institutions in the United States.
Some of the universities, which have offered Scholarships for Nigerian Students, are Cornell University, Boston University, and Johns Hopkins University. Others are Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Vanderbilt University.

Below are some of the scholarships opportunities available for Nigerian Students to study in USA:
 The Opportunity Funds program
The program looks out for students who would most likely be denied education in the USA because of lack of funds and supports them all the way.
This program lends support to eligible international students, including Nigerians by providing funds which will cover their application process to higher education institutions in US. Other areas covered by the funds provided are cost of mailing additional admissions documents to the United States, testing fees, as well as application fees. In addition, the student’s visas, settling-in costs and airfare travel to USA are catered for.
The Opportunity funds program however does not guarantee placement into a higher education institution in US and does not make provision for rent or tuition.
For a Nigerian student to benefit from this programme, note that applications are open and sent to schools every March after which a committee shortlists eligible applicants, invite them for interview physically or over the telephone.
Seminars are organized for those shortlisted and they go through a fairly long process during which they are exposed to different things about United States’ educational system.
 Fulbright Foreign Student Program in USA
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program which takes applications from every field allows postgraduate students and some others to study in United States’ higher institutions. This program makes provision for about 4,000 international students, Nigerians inclusive every year.
The funds provided cover cost of air flight, tuition, health insurance and stipend. Funding is also provided for the duration of the program. The eligibility for Fullbright Program depends on applicants’ country of origin and it is important that you check the requirements and application procedures on the official website which is http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/about/foreign-fulbright
The Deadline for application also depends on one’s country but usually, but it is open from February to October yearly.
Like we said earlier, there are numerous Scholarships for Nigerian Students, and the two above are just a tip of the iceberg. Others are:
 International Cultural Service Program (ICSP).
This scholarship hosted by University of Oregon, USA is available for foreign students (including Nigerians) who are eligible but lack the financial capacity. The scholarship would require that a selected candidate makes presentations about his or her home country to Staff and students of University of Oregon, community organizations as well as children.
University of Oregon waives tuition worth $7,500 – $30,000 for courses offered at the university and applicants are expected to have secured admission to the institution.
The application opens in October 2017 for the 2018-2019 academic session and other details are available at the Official Scholarship Website: https://isss.uoregon.edu/icsp
 American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
This scholarship is open to international students who desire to bring social changes to societies and obtain a Bachelor degree in USA. Beneficiaries would be required to return to their home country and contribute their quota to the development of communities.
The scholarship which is subject to renewal for four years upon meeting an academic standard covers tuition and accommodation. It does not cover books and materials, health insurance, cost of airfare and other miscellaneous.
Applicants are expected to complete the application online on http://www.american.edu/admissions/international/egls.cfm and send the required documents before the deadline is over.
The opportunities above are just a few of the numerous chances available for Nigerians to study in USA. Several other Scholarships for Nigerian Students are available if you would properly search.
Therefore, we invite you to join others who have successfully obtained scholarships for their study.