PDS-EDUSA-FY26-01 FY26 EducationUSA Nigeria Advising

The U.S. Mission Nigeria announces a competition to implement the EducationUSA Nigeria Advising Program, expanding access to U.S. higher education for qualified Nigerian students while strengthening advising services that promote informed and lawful study. Target participants include academically strong Nigerian secondary school and university students; eligible recipients are organizations with nationwide advising and program implementation capacity. The program implements two core initiatives: the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP), covering essential up-front costs including standardized testing, application fees, visa interview travel, and initial flights to enable merit-based competition for U.S. admissions; and support for four advising centers that deliver accurate, outcome-driven guidance aligned with U.S. priorities, emphasizing pre-departure orientations on student visa responsibilities, status maintenance, and U.S. law compliance. OFP recruitment must entail a rigorous, transparent selection process designed to identify the highest-performing students whose academic profiles and career trajectories align with U.S. strategic interest in STEM, AI, and critical emerging technologies. EducationUSA advising centers will promote informed, lawful study pathways, the program curbs visa misuse and illegal immigration while expanding access for top talent, advancing U.S. foreign policy priorities through American higher education excellence, Freedom 250 support, commercial diplomacy, and strengthened U.S. institutions and workforce development in critical sectors.