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  • 2019 elections will define Nigeria’s future, says US Ambassador

    THE forthcoming elections will define the future of the country, United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington has said.

    Symington urged stakeholders to promote credible and peaceful elections and that all institutions of government must do what is right.

    He addressed reporters yesterday after meeting with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

    The envoy said: “All of the institutions of government must do what is right. Election is not a matter of life and death. It is a matter of defining the future of Nigeria.  There must be free, fair and credible elections.”

    According to him, the idea of a free people with the ability to make free decisions remains the most important idea in the world.

    Read also: Edosomwan: ‘NDCP will declare war on poverty’

    Symington said: “I am quite confident that on Election Day, the sons and daughters of the powerful will not be out there causing violence.”

    He urged the people to have the courage to reject any call for them to be engaged in violence during the elections.

    On the campaigns, he urged the electorate to always ask their political leaders to outline ways through which they will actualise their promises.

    He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Party (APC) and the former Vice President Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believe in the votes of the people making a difference during the polls.

  • 2019 elections will define the future of Nigeria – US Ambassador

    United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington has stated that the forthcoming elections will define the future of the country, urging all stakeholders to promote credible and peaceful elections.
    Addressing journalists after meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Stuart Symington declared that all institutions of Government must do what is right.
    He said: “All of the institutions of Government must do what is right. Election is not a matter of life and death.
    “It is a matter of defining the future of Nigeria.  There must be free, fair and credible elections “.

    Read also: Only deployed card readers will read PVCs – INEC

    He said that the idea of a free people with the ability to make free decisions remains the most important idea in the world.
    He said: “I am quite confident that on election day, the sons and daughters of the powerful will not be out there causing violence”.
    He urged people to have the courage to reject any call for them to be engaged in violence during the elections.
    On the campaigns, he charged the electorate to always ask their political leaders to outline ways through which they will actualize their promises.
    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and the Former Vice President Atiku believe in the votes of the people making a difference during the polls.

  • Don’t amplify ethno-religious tensions- US Ambassador

    The US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback, has urged political office holders, representatives of civil society and religious leaders to focus on peacebuilding and avoid stoking ethno-religious tensions.

    At a one-day national youth dialogue on ethno-religious tolerance organised by the U.S Consulate General Lagos in partnership with the African Youths Initiative for Crime Prevention (AYICRIP) Brownback commended increased inter-faith engagement and dialogue in Nigeria.

    The envoy, who met with a group of religious leaders during a recent visit to Nigeria in June, noted the nation can do more to protect citizens’ right to religious freedom.

    “We need to do better than just achieving tolerance; we need to truly care for each other.

    “The people who stand for peace do not do this because they are from the same ethnic group or because they share a common religion. They believe the lives of everyone are sacred,” Brownback stated.

    U.S. Consul General John Bray, who opened the event, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting initiatives that promote peace.

    He admonished Nigerians to ensure that cyclical communal violence does not threaten national unity.

    “Each of us has a role to play in tamping down tensions between communities of all kinds,” Bray noted.

    “It is in your hands to ensure that this tragic violence does not descend into broader ethnic and religious fighting, and a cycle of reprisals.

    “We must all make sure that the fighting does not eat away at the fabric of Nigeria, the multi-religious and multiethnic tolerance that makes this a great and unified nation,” he concluded.

  • US Ambassador fetes Nigeria’s creative industry

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, has urged the country’s creative sector to tell stories that put Africa in a positive light.

    The ambassador was speaking at a meeting with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s entertainment industry which also had the US Consul General, F. John Bray present.

    Organised by Temple Management Company (TMC), the event held last Saturday at the US Consul-General’s private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The ambassador pointed out that intellectual property, not oil, not gas was the true strength of the Nigerian people.

    “I have travelled the length and breadth of this great country, from Maiduguri to Lagos, from Kebbi to Calabar, and there are fantastic stories to tell. You are all in a unique position to carry the torch for this continent,” Symington said”

    Also speaking, Temple Management’s CEO, Idris Olorunnimbe, acknowledged the US Consul General’s foresight in recognising the increasingly influential role of the burgeoning creative sector.

    “This has been a fruitful evening,” Olorunnimbe said. “Many of the Ambassador’s words foreshadowed the reasons why Temple was set up in the first place. We simply have to tell our own stories.”

    Present at the meet and greet were Joke Silva, Eddie Lawani, Ade Bantu, BBN runner-up, Bisola, OC Ukejie, Falz, Phyno, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Rukky Sanda and Yinka Davis, playwright (Heartbeat) and screenwriter (The Wedding Party) Tosin Otudeko, Iyanya, Darey Art-Alade, Jeff Akoh, Sound Sultan, Bovi and a host of others.

    Some of the highlights of the event include a spectacular performance by ex-MTN Project Fame winner, Jeff Akoh, accompanied by an acoustic band.

    Young artist, Fola David, renowned for his speed painting skill, created an illustration of the famed Lagos statue of the “Three Wise Men,” popularly referred to as ‘Ere Meta.’

    Guests were transfixed as the artist crafted the piece upside down!

    The Temple Management Company later presented the portrait to the US Ambassador on behalf of the creative community.

     

  • US Ambassador unveils first American Space

    US Ambassador unveils first American Space

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria Mr W. Stuart Symington has opened Nigeria’s first state-of-the art Priority American Space hosted at the Yaba offices of technology incubator, Co-Creation Hub (CC-Hub).

    The space, which opened last Friday, is equipped with cutting-edge digital technology.

    According to Ambassador Symington, the space, which is a centre for Nigerians to develop innovative ideas, learn about the US and its people, explore possible study at US universities, enjoy America’s cultural programmes and also interact with its exchange programme alumni.

    With a rich array of programmes and training, the Priority American Space, the 10th of its sort in Africa, will promote ingenious ideas, critical thinking and reasoned discourse. Worldwide, there are 67 Priority American Spaces.

    “At the Priority American Space in Lagos, we are investing in technology and programmes to unleash the creativity of Nigeria’s burgeoning community of innovators. We are pleased to partner with Co-Creation Hub, a leading force for incubating social entrepreneurship and technological advancement,” Ambassador Symington said.

    The centre,which is opened to the public, comprises a MakerSpace – a tech area designed to promote digital skill building; a workshop space equipped with the latest laptops and tablets for internet learning; a conversation space for small group meetings and research and a meeting space that supports innovation and creative collaboration.

    The event was attended by technology leaders.