The United States Consulate General in Lagos said it awarded $1.02m to civic organisations to implement projects across the 17 states in Southern Nigeria in 2021.
It said the funded projects addressed the themes of bolstering outreach to underserved communities, promoting respect for human rights and transparency in government, empowerment of women and youth, and teacher training and STEM education. Other themes included entrepreneurship, media literacy, combating misinformation as well as fostering a robust alumni network.
“The Consulate supported United States exchange alumni efforts to utilise the skills, knowledge, and networks gained through their exchange program experiences to address challenges faced by communities across southern Nigeria. Our exchange alumni organised clean-up campaigns, taught others job skills, marched to show support for combating gender-based violence, promoted technology in the classroom, and raised awareness of illegal wildlife trafficking.
“The alumni led projects were selected for their strong sustainability plans and many will continue past the grant period through volunteer work and other funding sources,” it said.
It would be recalled that the Consulate in collaboration with STEMi Makers Africa inaugurated three science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Innovation Clubs in Enugu State.
The event held at Solidbase Schools, located at the Trans-Ekulu section of the state’s capital, was witnessed by education stakeholders and secondary school students who showcased 21 engineering and science projects.
The Consulate also trained 250 women through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) providing them with skills to grow their businesses and contribute to the growth of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.
The Consulate also supported the shipment of 250 dairy cows to Ekiti State to boost milk production and introduced biotech cowpea to increase farmers’ yields and improve food security in Nigeria.
U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli praised the U.S. alumni commitment in working to improve the lives of community members through sustainable projects.
According to him, the Consulate’s alumni focused grant projects are part of the U.S. government’s efforts to support Nigeria’s economic development, improve livelihoods, and strengthen communities.
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