PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Mission Opens New American Corner in Borno State

September 18, 2007

Charge Gribbin and Governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sherrff opening American Corner Maiduguri | Full size

The U.S. Mission’s Charge’ d’Affaires Robert E. Gribbin joined with His Excellency Governor Senator Ali Modu Sherrif, Executive Governor of Borno State on September 18th, 2007 to commission the newest American Corner in Nigeria’s family of American Corners.  The Corner is located at the Main Library of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State. 

The University of Maiduguri American Corner is the 11th to be officially commissioned and the 12th to open its doors to the general public.  Although located at the University it is open to everyone to use free of charge.  The Corner contains books on life and culture in the United States, award winning American fiction, books on how to study in the U.S. and an eGranary database that contains thousands of full text documents on a wide variety of subjects. 

At the commissioning the Ambassador noted that, “This American Corner will serve as common ground for Americans and Nigerians to engage, communicate, and learn from each other.  It houses a collection of books and multimedia materials that are a gift to the people of Borno State from the American people.”

During his remarks Ambassador Gribbin quoted two prominent Americans.  The First Lady of the United States Laura Bush, herself a librarian, had this to say about libraries, “Libraries are community treasure chests, loaded with a wealth of information available to everyone equally.”

He noted that although this American Corner is modest in size, it is big in ideas.  To prove his point he quoted American Poet Laureate Rita Dove who said, “My childhood library was small enough not to be intimidating.  And yet I felt the whole world was contained in those two rooms.  I could walk an aisle and smell wisdom.” 

American Corners have information for journalists, academics, businessmen and women, civic organizations, teachers, students, government officials, military, clergy and traditional rulers.