Assistant Secretary Satterfield’s trip comes on the heels of
the recent visit to Nigeria by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and
underscores the United States’ strong commitment to strengthening
people-to-people connections with Nigeria that drive innovation, foster
knowledge exchange, and unlock opportunities for shared economic prosperity.
In Lagos, Assistant Secretary Satterfield delivered remarks
at the University of Lagos on the importance of cultural diplomacy in Africa
and announced three new exchange programs for the creative industries. These
new initiatives include: the Africa Creative TV initiative for writers and
producers in the film and TV industries; the American Music Mentorship Program,
which is in partnership with the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs; and the
film-focused, one-year Community College Initiative, which will take participants
through the script to the screen process.
She also witnessed the MOU signing ceremony for the
establishment of a Window on America at the University of Lagos –– the 26th
American Space in Nigeria –– which will serve as a gateway to a wealth of
resources; information about U.S. government sponsored exchange opportunities;
guidance on how to study in the United States; access to e-LibraryUSA, a
platform for academic research; career mentorship; and professional development
workshops.
In addition to visiting the American Corner Lekki, Assistant
Secretary Satterfield participated in a tech and innovation showcase featuring
six innovative solutions developed by alumni of U.S. government exchange
programs.
She also met with leading figures in Nigeria’s film and
music industries and discussed harnessing the potential of these industries to
drive economic growth, job creation, youth opportunities, and cultural exchange
while strengthening bilateral ties between the U.S. and Nigeria.
At the National Museum in Lagos, Assistant Secretary
Satterfield launched Nigeria’s first Cultural Property Agreement Implementation
Grant, which demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to working with
Nigeria to protect, honor, and preserve its cultural heritage.
Through this grant, museum professionals from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will work with their counterparts at the National Museum Lagos to digitize and improve access to Nigeria’s cultural heritage and raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation.
In Abuja, Assistant Secretary Satterfield met with Minister
of Education Professor Tahir Mamman and the Minister of Art, Culture, and
Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and discussed a variety of issues ranging from
the U.S.-Nigeria partnership on cultural diplomacy, including in film, to
expanding access to educational and professional opportunities for women and
girls in science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM).
The Assistant Secretary also engaged with beneficiaries of
the U.S. Embassy Abuja Opportunity Funds Program, which helps high achieving
but economically disadvantaged students secure admission and scholarships to
American colleges and universities.
She urged the students to make the most of their opportunity
to get a top-notch education in the United States while gaining first-hand
experience of American life and culture.
While in Abuja, Assistant Secretary Satterfield delivered
keynote remarks at the Women’s International Film Festival Nigeria and
participated in a moderated panel discussion where she highlighted the
important role of an inclusive and sustainable creative ecosystem in advancing
economic growth and strengthening bilateral people-to-people ties.
“The deep partnership between the United States and Nigeria
goes well beyond just our governments ––in fact, at the heart of our
relationship is our people,” Assistant Secretary Satterfield said during her
visit.
Assistant Secretary Satterfield’s visit highlights the
commitment the Biden-Harris Administration made at the 2022 US-Africa Leaders’
Summit to deepen ties with Africa in support of inclusive economic growth and
shared prosperity. Since the 2022 US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, 20 high-level U.S.
government officials have visited Nigeria.
