Education, solution to Africa’s devt challenges says US Ambassador

AMBASSADOR James Entwistle, the US ambassador to Nigeria, has harped on the importance of education to the development of any nation.

Entwistle made this assertion recently while addressing a Press conference at the end of a three-day visit with his wife, Dr. Pamela Schmoll to the American University of Nigeria (AUN). He acknowledged AUN’s academic excellence and development initiatives as the solution to Africa’s myriad development challenges.

“I’ve been very impressed with AUN, not just what you’re doing in terms of education, but what you’re doing to make the world around you a better place. For the many activities that you engage in off-campus, I have to give AUN pretty high marks.”

The ambassador praised the institution’s contributions to deepening US-Nigeria relationship and for bringing change to the educational sector. “The US and Nigeria have been doing fantastic things together for decades. Look at this university; that stands as a testimony to the US-Nigeria relationship.

“One of the things that has changed in my time as a US diplomat is that when I started years ago, almost anything of substance between two countries took place in the government to government channel. One of the most positive developments I’ve seen in the past 35 years is the growth of contacts in nations in non-governmental channels. It is relationships between academic institutions which lead to fantastic things like AUN. So, I’m delighted to have a chance to see and celebrate what this institution represents,” he said.

He noted that AUN’s community service is of great interest to the US government. “The US government is very interested in the many activities that you engage in off-campus. I had a spectacular session yesterday morning(October 8) with the AUN-Adamawa Peace Initiative as they talked to me about what they are doing to support Internally Displaced Persons. We are looking at supporting their efforts through USAID. Different activities like that might be appropriate for US government involvement.”

During the three-day visit, Entwistle had opportunity to interact with students, faculty and staff of AUN before the Press conference.

He urged African youths to tap into the ongoing Young African Leadership Initiative, a program aimed at empowering African youths.

While speaking, President Ensign traced the history of AUN to the life-changing encounter the Founder and Nigeria’s former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had with US Peace Corps volunteers who taught him when he was a young boy.

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