A Nigerian who graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Timi Olagunju, has warned the United States against moves targeted at foreign students.

Olagunju said the American economy would be negatively impacted if the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme was cancelled.

He spoke while reacting to the introduction of a bill by a Rep member, Paul Gozar, and eight others seeking to end OPT.

The OPT programme allows international students to gain work experience related to their field of study after graduation in the US.

Gozar argued that the OPT scheme undercuts American workers by offering employers incentives to hire foreign labour over citizens.

Speaking with PUNCH Diaspora Tales, Olagunju said, “If the bill is passed, it will do more harm than good to students, to the US economy, and American workers.”

He noted that more than 50 per cent of graduate students in engineering and computer science in American universities were from other countries.

Olagunju, who is also a law graduate from the University of Ibadan, called on the US government to have a rethink on its policies, adding that international students would begin to consider other destinations.

He revealed that more than 70 Nigerians graduated from Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts, on Thursday.

Olagunju, who had a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on Artificial Intelligence Governance and Economics from the school, described Harvard as an environment for global preparation.

“Harvard prepares you with cutting-edge tools and networks for life and impact, but it takes you to answer the hard questions about how you want your life to matter in this world,” he added.