Nigerian human rights activist Rinu Oduala has revealed that US visa restrictions affecting Nigerian nationals forced her to withdraw her admission to a master’s programme at Stanford University.
Oduala, who is the Executive Director of the Marigold R.O. Foundation, said she had been admitted to Stanford’s master’s programme in Community Health and Prevention Research after years of academic and professional preparation.
She described the admission as a major personal achievement, saying she was the first person in her immediate family to pursue a master’s degree and had worked for years to reach that stage.
Visa restrictions disrupted plans
According to Oduala, uncertainty began after the US announced visa restrictions affecting Nigerian nationals seeking F, M and J visas.
She said she had previously travelled to the United States for fellowships, speaking engagements and other professional activities and initially expected to proceed with her studies without major difficulty.
However, after announcing her Stanford admission, she said several Nigerian students contacted her over similar concerns.
Oduala explained that she never actually submitted a student visa application and was therefore not personally refused a visa. Instead, she contacted Stanford to explore possible alternatives.
She said the university had begun the process and asked when she expected to resume, but there was no option to begin the programme remotely or defer her admission while waiting for the situation to change.
After considering the uncertainty, she said she decided to withdraw her admission on September 8, 2026.
‘It was a blow’
Oduala said losing the opportunity was emotionally difficult because she had already imagined her academic and professional future at Stanford.
She said the setback was particularly painful because it resulted from circumstances outside her control rather than a failure to meet the university’s admission requirements.
“I had earned that opportunity,” she said, adding that the experience also made her think about other Nigerian and African students whose academic plans may have been affected by the restrictions.
Oduala said she had invested years in building her academic record, gaining professional experience, preparing applications and pursuing opportunities that eventually led to the Stanford admission.
Wants focus on affected students
The activist said her experience had shifted her attention towards the wider impact of immigration policies on international students.
She argued that gaining admission and being able to physically access an institution were now two separate challenges for some international students.
Oduala said she had considered deferring her studies or finding another institution, but Stanford informed her that deferral was unavailable and there was no remote option.
She said she would likely pursue her education at another university while continuing her professional career.
‘I would not do anything differently’
Despite the setback, Oduala said she would not change anything about the application process because she did not believe she had made an avoidable mistake.
She said the experience had demonstrated that international students could meet all academic requirements and still encounter barriers created by immigration policies.
She urged Nigerian students who have secured admission abroad not to view their nationality as a measure of their academic ability or potential.
Oduala also said she does not currently plan to study in the United States, although she remains appreciative of the academic and professional relationships she has built there.
The activist said she would continue engaging with students, institutions and policymakers on the broader implications of visa restrictions for Nigerian and African students.
