FY26 EducationUSA Nigeria Advising

The U.S. Embassy Abuja seeks applicants for a cooperative agreement to implement the EducationUSA Nigeria Advising Program, with an application deadline of June 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM WAT; two awards are anticipated, each ranging from $67,500 to $100,700 for a total of $168,200 in available funding.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions (public and private), and public international organizations, but not for-profit entities. All applicants must hold a Unique Entity Identifier and valid SAM.gov registration.

The program has no cost share requirement. The performance period is 12 to 18 months, with an anticipated project start date of July 2026. Work is performed nationwide in Nigeria, with four advising centers located in Calabar, Jos, Ibadan, and Kano.

The competition implements two core initiatives. The EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program provides merit-based support to approximately 40 high-achieving Nigerian secondary school and university students, covering standardized testing, application fees, passports, visa and SEVIS fees, and travel costs. Recipient organizations must conduct rigorous, transparent selection identifying students whose academic profiles and career trajectories align with U.S. strategic interest in STEM, AI, and critical emerging technologies. The second initiative supports four advising centers delivering guidance on U.S. higher education pathways, visa responsibilities, status maintenance, and U.S. law compliance, with emphasis on pre-departure orientations aligned with student visa regulations.

Required application materials include SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms; a 10-page maximum proposal narrative addressing objectives and implementation plans; detailed budget justification; monitoring and evaluation plans with theory of change diagrams; key personnel resumes; letters of support from partners; and a recruitment strategy for identifying high-performing STEM-focused students. The Department of State will substantially involve itself in OFP finalist selection and advising center program oversight.

Assistance Listing / CFDA number 19.432 (Academic Exchange Programs - Educational Advising and Student Services) is administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.