Speeches

Ambassador John Campbell Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Opening Of American Corner At The Bola Ige Information Technology Center

Thursday June 9, 2005

Protocol

I am delighted to join you on this historic occasion. Today I have the opportunity to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the American Corner at the Bola Ige Information Technology Center. However, before I do so I must first acknowledge the appropriateness of the Corner's new location.

The location of the American Corner at the Bola Ige Information Technology Center provides excellent synergy between two facilities, which offer important information and other services to the public. Permit me to suggest that the union of these two facilities will offer an excellent working environment with state of the art resources for the dissemination of knowledge. The information being shared in this combined space is not only about the United States, but also about Nigeria. At the same time the facility will also provide internet services, computer courses, video conferencing, and other business services.

I mention this because, as many of you may recall, the Bola Ige Information Technology Center is a project of the Education for Development and Democracy Initiative a U.S. Government project done in collaboration with the public and private sectors. The name of the Center honors the late Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, whom I knew when I served in Nigeria before, for his contributions to law, education and democracy.

Now you might wonder, what is an American Corner? Currently, there are ten American corners in Nigeria. Five are located in the northern part of the country: Abuja, Bauchi, Jos, Kaduna and Kano. The other five Corners are situated in the Southern part of the country, in Abeoukuta, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

The American Corner is a joint cultural center with educational and reference materials and poster exhibits. It is a venue for speakers and local alumni group meetings and it is also a forum for interaction with civil society and grass roots organizations. But most importantly, it is a partnership between the United States and Nigeria, bridging cultural barriers through technology-based programs. Through this partnership, the Bola Ige Center provides the Corner with space, furnishings and staffing to assist users in accessing the multi-media library collection provided by the United States government. In short, the information and technology provided may be American but the location and the staff is always Nigerian. By locating the American Corner in the Bola Ige Center, we are able to enhance information sharing and information about the United States while at the same time providing a multi-functional platform for programs of mutual benefit to the United States and Nigeria.

In this vastly expanding age of information technology no country can afford to be left behind. Nigeria is uniquely poised to bridge the technological divide, and the U.S. government is committed to providing every opportunity it can to assist Nigeria in taking its rightful place in this highly technological world environment. Democratic values and even the concept of democracy itself feed on timely information dissemination. The U.S. government is a proud supporter of Nigeria's nascent democracy and we continue this support through the creation of the American Corner at the Bola Ige Center.

And so Ladies and Gentlemen it is my honor and privilege to be with you today to participate in this opening ceremony.

Thank you.

Related Materials:

• Handover Ceremony Of Bola Ige Information Technology Center (CRC)
• Opening of American Corner, Abeokuta
• American Corners in Nigeria