By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Some 14,000 Nigerians are currently studying in universities in the United States, says the US Consulate, which reinforces the fact that Nigerians are the most educated residents of America, with 59 per cent of them aged 25 years and older having at least a bachelor’s degree.
In the second place are South Koreans (56 percent); third, Chinese (51 per cent); followed by the British (50 per cent), and Germans (38 per cent).
Only 33 of White American citizens have first degrees, according to Migration Policy Institute tabulation of American Community Survey (ACS) data of US Census Bureau.
US Consulate Public Affairs Officer in Lagos, Stephen Ibelli, made the latest disclosure at the inauguration of “Window on America” in Osun University Teaching Hospital (OUTH) Oshogbo, per reporting by The Nation.
OUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Peter Olaitan, enthused that Window on America will foster mutual understanding and respect between Nigeria and the US.
“Window on America”, an initiative of the Public Affairs Section, US Embassy, Lagos, provides free access to connect and learn about the America through programmes and lectures, books, movies and magazines.
“Indeed, we have almost 14,000 Nigerians studying in America and this is not by accident. This is because Nigerians and Nigerian families believe in strong education.
“They push their kids to strong education. American universities offer world class education,” Ibelli said.
Window on America is a community resource centre for accurate and current information about the political, economic, cultural, educational and social life in the US, and Ibelli said the new space offers a calendar of programmes on topics of interest to bring Americans and Nigerians closer together.
The centre enables the public to connect to universities in the US to do free research for master’s and doctorate degrees.
“We are so excited today to launch the Window on America here in Osogbo. This is delivery process because it is difficult to travel here and from one place to another.
“And that is why we want to bring a little bit of consulate, a little bit of America mission, a little bit of mission in Nigeria to the public.
“With its modern design, computer workstations, books, and perhaps most importantly, an open space for members of the community to host conversations of mutual interest, the new centre exemplifies the US government’s commitment to a core tenet of democracy, a citizen’s right to free access to information.
“Through the Osogbo Window on America, we will provide employability and leadership training for young people, offer information on study opportunities in the US, showcase American culture and values, as well as foster closer people-to-people ties between the people of Nigeria and the United States.”
Nigerians constitute most educated group in US
The analysis by the ACS buttresses report by the World Bank that Nigerians in the diaspora belong to the most educated immigrant group representing every professional field.
There are an estimated 15 million Nigerians in all parts of the world, and according to the World Bank, the average of them holds at least a bachelor’s degree with an annual median income of about $65,000.
CNN argued in February 2020 that, based on the ACS analysis, then-President Donald Trump should not have included Nigeria among the countries on which he imposed visa restrictions on January 31, 2020 which took effect from February 21.
On the visa ban list were also Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. President Joe Biden reversed the ban early this year.
CNN said Nigerians are the most educated immigrants from Africa in the US, noting that “according to the Migration Policy Institute, 59 per cent of Nigerian immigrants aged 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, that is nearly double the proportion for Americans born in the US [33 per cent].
“It is also more than the proportion of immigrants from South Korea, China, the United Kingdom and Germany.”
54% of Nigerians in high skilled jobs
CNN recalled that when Trump unveiled the immigration plan in 2019, he said he wanted high scale and well educatedEnglish-speaking immigrants who could assimilate easily and give back to the US.
If that was what Trump wanted, the broadcaster said, Nigerian immigrants who make up the largest group of Africans in the US as of 2017 “check all those boxes. They are some of the most educated immigrants in America.
“Nigerian immigrants tend to work high skilled jobs, 54 per cent are in largely white-collar positions in business, management, science, and the art compared to the 39 per cent of people born in the US.”
This, according to CNN, means that Nigerian immigrants have significant spending power.
It cited a report by the New American Economy which states that Nigerian immigrants in the US in 2018 made more than $14 billion and paid more than $4 billion in taxes.
The report also said Nigerians in the diaspora around the world sent back almost $24 billion in remittances, contributing to the Nigerian economy that is “more dynamic than many people, including Trump himself, realise.”
CNN cited another report by the Centre for Global Development that Nigeria is a country where the middle class is increasing in education and aspiration.
Nigeria is America’s second-largest trade partner and the US plans to double its investments and trading in Africa.
