PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

American Corner Bauchi hosts U.S. Lecture on Youth Empowerment

Date: June 28, 2007
Venue: Bauchi

Country Public Affairs Officer Ms. Atim Eneida George in a group photograph with students who participated in the youth empowerment lecture in Bauchi. | Full size

On Thursday, June 28, the US Embassy Abuja Country Public Affairs Officer (CPAO), Atim Eneida George lectured on youth empowerment and capacity building to about 120 guests at the American Corner, Bauchi, north east Nigeria.  She challenged the youth to take advantage of the learning opportunities available to them, especially ICT training at the Community Resource Center to better their lives.  She said “when preparation meets opportunity, they inevitably produce success.”  The CPAO urged the youthful participants to seize every available opportunity to acquire an education, be positive, disciplined and dedicated in pursuing their goals.  She said the Community Resource Center and the American Corner is a partnership between the American people and the People of Bauchi State to help the community acquire IT skills.  A lively interactive session followed the presentation, which was described by most participants as a powerful life changing experience and “food for thought.” 

The program has brought more visibility to the American Corner presence at the Community Resource Center in Bauchi known as the Professor Iya Abubakar Community Resource Center for the North East. More than half of the guests who attended the program were students and unemployed youth, who at the end of the program asked for more mentoring and requested the American Corner to expand the youth empowerment lectures to the rural areas so as to reach a wider audience.  Bauchi State Youth Empowerment Coordinator, Mrs. Onyeka Johnson-Kanu, a lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, said the American Corner lecture has provided her some insights on youth empowerment strategies.  She requested permission to use the lecture as a training module.