US opens first window on America centre in Nigeria

The United States has opened the first of its kind window on America centre in Nigeria.

Mary Beth Leonard, the United States (US) ambassador to Nigeria, on Monday, opened the centre which is hosted at the Lekki Slum2School Innovation Hub in Lagos.

Window on America is a space where visitors can learn about the US, including its government, history, culture, and educational system through programs, lectures, books and electronic resources provided by the US government.

Leonard said the Lekki window on America is as a result of a partnership between the US consulate general in Lagos and Slum2School Africa, founded by Otto Orondaam, a 2016 alumnus of the US government’s Mandela Washington fellowship.

The new Window on America is open to everyone in the community and its services, programs and resources would be available to the public at no cost.

“We are happy to open the very first Window on America space in Nigeria here in Lekki,” Leonard said.

“In the next few months, we will follow with six additional new Windows on America in the south and 12 across the country. We want our Windows on America to promote mutual understanding between the United States and the people of Nigeria.”

The window on America will serve as a community center where young people develop their ideas, as well as their leadership and entrepreneurship skills through programs and workshops designed especially for them.

“In addition to providing public programming space, the Lekki Window on America will support five core programs: English language learning, educational advising, alumni activities, cultural programs, and information about the US,” she said.

“Visitors to the window will typically include students, teachers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists, civic organizations, government officials, and community leaders in addition to many others.

“In addition to the Lekki Window on America, 12 more will be opened in major cities across the country, including Abeokuta, Awka, Benin City, Enugu, Osogbo, Uyo, Zaria, Minna, Dutse, Makurdi, Gombe and Lafia, in order to engage more Nigerian audiences in their local communities.”