Salamatu Ejembi, Lagos
The United States of America has unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at fostering educational and creative collaborations between Nigeria and the United States.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield, revealed during a policy address on “The Significance of Cultural Diplomacy in Africa” delivered at the University of Lagos that the U.S. and the University of Lagos have formed a partnership for the establishment of a dynamic information hub named ‘Window on America’.
Satterfield emphasised that the ‘Window on America’ centre will serve as a pivotal resource hub, providing comprehensive information on studying in the United States, avenues for participation in workforce development programs, exposure to American culture, and unfettered access to high-speed internet for university students and faculty members alike.
“The ‘Window on America’ is an important part of our partnership with the University of Lagos, which has been a strategic educational partner to the United States, and home to scores of Nigerian Fulbright alumni and a reciprocal host that has welcomed more than 30 U.S. Fulbright scholars over the years,” she said.
Satterfield then acknowledged the immense contribution of human resources in the various sectors of both economies, saying that the deep partnership between the United States and Nigeria goes well beyond just the two governments.
She said, “In fact, at the heart of our relationship is our people. It is the more than 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students from Nigeria who studied in the United States just last year; it is the artists and athletes who bring together our rich cultures and celebrate peace through music and sport; it is the entrepreneurs, engineers, programmers, and scientists that spur innovation in technology.”
According to Satterfield, it is these people, and even more, that comprise the partnership between the United States, Nigeria, and countries across the continent of Africa, who together, are working to advance peace, economic opportunity, equity, and security.
Satterfield then announced that the United States was building on its partnership with Nigeria through the Fulbright Program and the Mandela Washington Fellowship to pursue new opportunities to expand further into the creative industries, technology, and innovation.
She said, “The United States recognises the tremendous potential of the creative industries to create economic opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, and thus, the U.S. government is supporting Nigeria’s creative industries because they offer economic opportunities for millions of people from Hollywood to Nollywood.”
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Africa Creative TV initiative
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs unveiled an initiative known as the Africa Creative TV Initiative (ACTV). The programme is geared towards fostering the growth of TV writers, producers, and below-the-line professionals through comprehensive professional development opportunities.
According to her, “ACTV is a partnership with the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and was created as a result of President Biden’s 2022 Africa Leaders Summit, and is in recognition of the creative industry’s influence and impact in Africa.”
“ACTV will focus on professional development and network building for television writers, producers, and those in other technical fields such as art direction, cinematography, editing, line producing, and more.”
In her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola bragged about the role that the school is playing in Nigeria and the world at large.
She said, “For over five decades, the University of Lagos has been a supporter of US missions’ programmes and activities. So we have a very long history with the United States.”
She said that the university is proud to be one of the top universities to host the Fulbright Visiting Scholars coming from the United States, with a current number of 35 scholars and an alumni of over one hundred.
Also present at the event were; US Consul General, Will Stevens, alongside other members of the delegation, Felicia Ejiah, a 2019 alumna of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Programme and other distinguished staff members of the university.
