PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

“Africa is a Center Piece of U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda”

Date: January 8, 2008
Venue: Abuja

Chargé Lisa Piascik with Rear Admiral Anthony M. Isa,Commandant, National Defense College | Full size

Speaking at Nigeria’s premier National Defense College on January 8, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, Lisa Piascik explained President Bush’s Africa policy agenda and reiterated U.S. commitment to the continent. 

She told the audience that as a demonstration of his commitment to Africa; President Bush has met with more African Heads of State than any previous U.S. President.  She explained that U.S. foreign assistance, as a percentage of federal spending, increased about 70 percent between 2000 and 2004, and instead of short-term solutions, President Bush has focused on ways to reshape the landscape and reframe the debate.

Chargé Piascik also met and exchanged views with Rear Admiral Anthony Musa Isa, Commandant of the National Defense College and an alumnus of the U.S. National Defense University, which Ms. Piascik also attended.

Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies in the Nigerian National War College, Major General Jos Oshanupin, said the invitation to the U.S. diplomat to speak on U.S. and Africa Relations was aimed at facilitating dialogue and creating a better understanding of U.S. Foreign policy on Africa for the senior military and civilian course participants.