It was an exciting experience for students and staff of the Lead City University, Ibadan as the institution hosts the Deputy Head, Public Affairs Unit of the United States Consulate General, Jennifer Foltz, alongside other diplomatic staff on its campus at a Special Interactive Session, on Monday.
The Vice-Chancellor, LCU, Prof. Kabiru Aderemi Adeyemo, in his address of welcome acknowledged the strong bond between the Nigerian government and the American authorities, which he said, dated back to 1960 independence.
The VC said, “It is great pleasure to welcome you to our great institution, Lead City University Ibadan. The Department of Politics and International Relations has organised this special interactive session.
“The department is blessed with distinguished scholars, rich faculty members and Diplomats like Prof, Alaba Ogunsanwo, who had been ambassador to three countries, and Prof. Tunji Kolapo, a former ambassador to Ghana and a renowned Professor of International Relations and Diplomacy, Prof. Jide Owoeye.
“Today’s special Interactive session is historic and important in many ways. This is great opportunity for our undergraduate students to meet, interact and engage an experienced American diplomat on U.S government public diplomacy policies and programmes, U.S. institutions, foreign policy objectives, education, culture, values, aids, visas and so on.
“I welcome Jennifer Foltz, America Diplomat, Deputy Head, Public Affairs Unit of the United States Consulate General and her team to our campus.”
On the ties between the two countries, the VC said that “The United States established diplomatic relations with Nigeria in 1960 following Nigeria’s independence from the United Kingdom. From 1966 to 1999, Nigeria experienced a series of military coups, excluding the short-lived second republic between 1979-1983. The 30-month long civil war, which ended in January 1970, resulted in 1-3 million casualties.
“Following the 1999 inauguration of a civilian president, the U.S.-Nigerian relationship began to improve, which fostered cooperation on foreign policy and regional peacekeeping.
“The U.S. foreign policy is far-reaching because the United States is the global superpower and world leader. It operates in a world beset by famine, poverty, disease, and catastrophes both natural (tsunamis, earthquakes) and man-made (climate change, pollution of the seas and skies, and release of radioactive materials from nuclear plants). Parts of the world are plagued by genocide, regional and ethnic strife, and refugees.
“Terrorism, conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the nuclear weapons programmes of Iran and North Korea, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and instability and challenges to autocratic rulers in the Middle East are only the most obvious of the foreign policy issues that affect the United States. Others issues include economic upheavals, AIDS in Africa.
“In Nigeria, the United States seeks to help improve the economic stability, security, and well-being of Nigerians by strengthening democratic institutions, improving transparency and accountability, and professionalising security forces. U.S. assistance also aims to reinforce local and national systems, build institutional capacity in the provision of health and education services, and support improvements in agricultural productivity, job expansion in the rural sector, and increased supplies of clean energy.
On the occasion, Foltz sheds light on the U.S. foreign policies, Aids, Visa and advocacy, among others.
The university’s Registrar, the Deans of Faculties, heads of Departments, including HOD Politics and International Relationsand invited guests from other institutions of higher learning were present.
