AMERICAN WEEK

U.S.  Envoy Launches Two Weeks of Activities
Underscoring USG-Nigerian Partnership

February 17, 2009
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Abuja, Nigeria

Highlighting the partnership between the American and Nigerian people and their governments, the American National Week events will feature U.S. Government programs to support Nigeria's efforts on democracy, health and education, economic growth and trade, particularly in agriculture, and capacity building in the security sector.

President Barack Obama, in his inaugural address, said to developing nations that "we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."  "The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has taken the President's pledge and has a number of development projects across the 36 states of Nigeria," Ambassador Sanders said.  The two weeks of activities will also include National Day celebrations in Abuja (February 19) and Lagos (February 22) with the following other U.S. Government funded programs on behalf of the American people:

• Olam Nigeria-USAID rice project for farmers (Benue State)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture funded flour mill project (Lagos)
• U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Earth Care waste management facility to help the environment (Lagos)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention avian influenza diagnostic lab (Abuja) 
• U.S. Defense Department / HIV program equipment for the Mogadishu Cantonment’s Defense Health Club (Abuja)
• PEPFAR supported National Blood Transfusion Center (Abeokuta) 
• Community Policing program with the Kaduna Police and a U.S. Defense Department funded borehole at a local school (Kaduna) 
• Lectures by Ambassador Sanders on U.S.-Nigeria policy (Island Club, Lagos; University of Benin)
• The American Corner (Lagos)
• VFS-Global USA-Visa Center highlighting our commitment to high-quality customer service for visa applicants (Abuja)
• Cultural programs for school children in the Federal Capital Territory and a public performance at the Ambassador's residence featuring the U.S. Navy Band (Abuja, FCT)
• Performances with Onyeka Onwenu in Abuja and in Lagos by Grammy-Award winning American blues artist Chris Thomas King (Hilton, Abuja; Muson Center, Lagos)

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