PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Nigeria Has Made Progress in Ten Years - U.S. Chargè McCullough
Abuja, October 7, 2009

Chargè McCullough speaking at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting Oct. 7, 2009. | FULL SIZE

While problems remain in energy, media independence and the criminality in the Niger Delta area, Nigeria has made improvements in the last ten years with several new institutions showing great potentials for national development according to U.S. Chargè d'Affaires Dundas McCullough.

"Even on corruption, there has been relative progress,... from a dead last in 2000 by Transparency International rankings to 121 out of 180 in 2008" said McCullough.   

The Embassy Chargè spoke yesterday at a Diplomatic Luncheon organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) to sensitize members of the diplomatic community on the forth coming "Made-in-Nigeria Domestic Trade Fair” slated for Friday, October 9, in Abuja.

Looking back as a returning diplomat to Nigeria, McCollough noted that major positive changes have taken place within the aviation industry, education, banking and monetary policy, the telecommunication sector while U.S. corporate giants like General Electric, Microsoft, Cisco, John Deere and IBM have dramatically increased their business presence in Nigeria, a sign McCollough attributed to the opportunities and potentials in Nigeria.  

McCollough is making his second tour to Nigeria as Chargè after a first tour as the U.S. Embassy Economic Counselor in 1998 in Lagos.  

The Heads of Mission from Spain, Japan, Mexico, Malaysia, Brazil, Tanzania, Netherlands, and Ghana attended the meeting while South Africa, Jamaica, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea sent representatives.
 
Established in 1986, ABUCCIMA works to promote and protect the interest of commerce and industry within the Federal Capital Territory and to encourage greater understanding, cohesion and unity among businesses and business organizations.  The agency is affiliated to the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

Read full text of the Chargè speech here.