The University of Texas at Dallas has accelerated its international student recruiting efforts by establishing a footprint in Africa's most populous nation. The UT Dallas Africa office opened in Lagos, Nigeria, with a ceremony held July 18.

UT Dallas established the office in partnership with Axxess of Dallas and Cavista Holdings of Lagos to facilitate engagement with high-quality prospective students who might not otherwise be exposed to the University. With a metropolitan population of more than 16 million people, Lagos offers emerging areas for the recruitment of potential students. The move follows last year's establishment of a UTD Asia office in New Delhi, India, as UT Dallas works to boost its brand around the world.

"Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, and the best minds produced there remain underrepresented in the halls of American academia," said Dr. Richard C. Benson, UTD president and the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership, who attended the event. "We look forward to the opportunity to increase awareness of UT Dallas globally and to continue to attract top talent to the University."

UT Dallas alum John Olajide BS'04, founder and chairman of Cavista Holdings and founder and CEO of Axxess, emphasized his support for connecting African youth to quality educational and professional opportunities. In 2019 Axxess donated $500,000 to establish the Axxess Scholars Program for computer science students at UT Dallas.

"As a Nigerian American and proud UTD alum, I know well the exciting opportunity this provides to smart and ambitious young people in Africa," said Olajide, who serves as co-chair of New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas. "This office will serve as a beacon of hope and possibilities, particularly for those interested in getting a world-class education in computer science and engineering."

The new UTD Africa office is led by Princewill Attai, senior manager of outreach and recruitment in Africa for the UTD International Center. Attai is an international education expert with experience in student recruitment, counseling, brand marketing and partnerships. Attai has helped place numerous African students in institutions across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada.

"Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, and the best minds produced there remain underrepresented in the halls of American academia. We look forward to the opportunity to increase awareness of UT Dallas globally and to continue to attract top talent to the University."

UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson

Dr. Inga H. Musselman, UT Dallas provost, vice president for academic affairs and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership, described UTD as a university dedicated to understanding and solving problems for the benefit of society and from a variety of perspectives.

"UT Dallas thrives because of its richly diverse student body and the broad spectrum of ideas those students bring to the table," Musselman said. "The wide range of voices guiding our innovation equips us with the knowledge and experience to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues."

Staff in the Africa office will attend local and regional educational fairs, organize events that connect prospective students with alumni, foster research collaborations between UT Dallas faculty and local university partners, expand education abroad opportunities for UTD students, and more.

In addition to Benson and Musselman, the event was attended by UT Dallas representatives Dr. Juan González, dean and Francis S. Johnson Chair for Graduate Education and vice provost for global engagement; Dr. Jennifer Hilton Montero, director of international initiatives; and Josephine Vitta, senior director of the International Center.