The U.S consulate has launched its fourth spaces in Lagos, which would serve as a multi-functional space for youths to develop ideas and explore entrepreneurship skills.
The new American Corner, which would be accessible from Monday to Friday, is located at the former Concord Newspaper premises, Airport Road Ikeja, Lagos State.
At the ceremony, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the opening of America Corner in Lagos futher amplifies the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that a significant aspect of U.S. foreign policy, and a cornerstone of her leadership is investing in people.
“The new American Corner Ikeja will function as a centre where young people develop their ideas, as well as their leadership and entrepreneurship skills through programmes and workshops.”
She applauded the partnership with Venture Garden Group, which hosts the new American Corner. Special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investment , Solape Hammond, representing the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state is developing Africa’s largest technology and entrepreneurship space for young people to enjoy.
“The American Corner Ikeja will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Lagos State Government particularly in broad areas of promoting education and technology learning,” she added.
In their separate remarks, Bunmi Akinyemiju and Kunmi Demuren, Co-founders of Venture Garden Group, explained that the U.S. Consulate General’s partnership with the tech group has been mutually beneficial.
“The American Corner Ikeja directly advances one of our commitments to add value to Nigeria’s efforts to develop and support an educational system that will unlock the expertise, innovative spirit, and entrepreneurial capacity of young Nigerians,” Akinyemiju said.
“We’re delighted that this new American Corner will offer even more opportunities to young people to discover the U.S. as they prepare for their futures,” Demuren said.
The American Corner Ikeja imparts a welcoming and inspiring American-themed environment comprising a maker space, a tech area designed to promote digital skill-building as well as a workshop space equipped with the latest laptops and tablets for learning. Visitors can also learn about Study in the United States through its comprehensive library collection of exam prep materials and information on colleges and universities in the United States.
The Corner offers conversation clubs, discussion groups, virtual programs, film screenings on a wide range of topics as well as STEM learning activities such as robotics and drone technology. In addition, American spaces are home to over 9,000 U.S. government alumni who program at the spaces in an effort to give back to their local communities.
Visitors to the American Corner will typically include students, teachers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists, civic organizations, government officials, and community leaders, in addition to many others.
