Daily Independent Online.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2004.
Nigeria to benefit from U.S. budget for education, health
in Africa
By Bassey Udo,
Snr Correspondent, Abuja
Some African countries, including Nigeria, are to share in
the $20 billion (about N2.7 trillion) budgeted by the United States to fund
first class projects in developing economies around the world.
A member of the United States Congress and member of Committee on Foreign
Relations, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, who disclosed this on Monday in
Abuja, said the projects would be in the areas of health, housing, education
and military assistance.
Kilpatrick, who was speaking at the opening session of
Africa World Expo United States Trade Mission to Nigeria sponsored by Temple
Trust Nigeria Limited, however, indicated that her assignment in Nigeria was to
identify such projects that deserved assistance. Describing this year's trade mission as unique since its
inception almost a decade ago, particularly as it also focused on building
partnerships, economic basis for electricity, power, water, clean environment,
agriculture and train people on both sides of the Atlantic to set up industries
that would change lives.
According to Kilpatrick, 20 members of the mission have been
deployed to train Nigerians on how to partner to develop agriculture, provide
water and electricity as well as clean the environment.
"Democracies are growing and Global Trade is expanding
it scope of activities on the African Continent. Events like the African World
Expo Trade Mission enhances equal Trade and Business Partnerships between our
nation and Sub-Sahara Africa. As we are here, we say it is time to come
together and build our own companies, structure our communities and provide the
resources to maintain our continent”, Kilpatrick said.
In his remark, the Managing Director of Temple Trust, Mr.
Etim Oyosoro, said realising a Nigerian economy that could truly compete in
today's global markets would require the concerted and coordinated efforts of
visionary leaders, a public sector that was responsive to changes in global investment
trends as well as local foreign entrepreneurs that were willing to engage when
good investment opportunities presented themselves.
Oyosoro said in an era when public and private sector
partnerships have been established as the strategy for sustaining economic
growth, the mission presented a private sector initiative to strengthen ties
between the United States and Nigeria with its abounding human material
resources.
“For the world to evolve into a true global community,
current events affirm that a fast track in socio-economic integration through
bilateral trade and cultural exchanges in the one way to enhancing economic
development and ensuring world peace and harmony,” Oyosoro stressed.
The President, African World Expo, Mr. Effiong Eniang, in
his remark noted that most American companies claimed to find it difficult in
transacting business in Africa due to uncertainty and instability on the
continent. He assured that the mission would strive to raise awareness on the
many challenges facing American business population as well as increased
business, investment, economic inclusion and empowerment.
Supporters of the trade mission include United States
Department of Commerce, the US Small Business Administration, the State of
Michigan, Country of Wayne, Detroit Way County Port Authority, the City of
Detroit, Daimler Chrysler, Michigan Minority Business Development Council
Agencies, Industries and Entrepreneurs to promote Trade, Business and
Investment between the US, Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Others are Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission,
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Citizens Bank.
