United State Agency for International Development (Nigeria)

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of over 160 million. In 2011, the country’s economy grew at a rate of 8.4 percent, largely fueled by oil revenues. Nigeria is the sixth largest exporter of oil in the world. However, amidst the indicators of progress, Nigeria is still troubled by myriad socioeconomic problems.

USAID has a long and proud history of assistance to Nigeria that dates back to 1960, the year that Nigeria became the 26th African nation to gain independence. At that time, the U.S. Government awarded grants to four major U.S. state universities (Michigan State, Wisconsin State, Kansas State, and Colorado State) to build colleges of agriculture in four Nigerian universities: the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria-Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria, and the University of Ife.