In the Lekki neighborhood of Lagos State, the “American Corner” was officially opened by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken yesterday, Wednesday, January 23, 2024.
As to the official release on the US Government’s website, www.state.gov, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State of the nation, took part in the ribbon-cutting event to formally inaugurated American Corner Lekki.
In an exclusive interview with Channels Television’s Chairman/CEO, John Momoh (OON), on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Blinken, stated “as Africa has shaped the US economy in the past, present, and future, the Secretary of State asserted that Africa is vital to the US.”

Blinken, who praised Nigerian inventiveness, added that there was a growing US interest “in working with Nigeria, investing in Nigeria, partnering with Nigeria.”
“American Corners” are geographic hubs for information and programming showcasing American history, politics, culture, and current affairs.

According to Blinken, “This new addition to the United States’ global American Spaces network, consisting of over 600 cultural and information centers in over 140 countries, marks the beginning of the 20th anniversary celebrations of American Corners,” the statement read.

A key component of the US Government’s people-to-people engagement strategy is American Corners, a division of the American Spaces network that receives support from regional partners. Expanding access to education, economic opportunity, equity, and societal inclusion are its goals.

In addition to offering easy access to American culture, internet services, and opportunities for English language learning, American Corner Lekki is a symbol of the future of the American Spaces network. It also offers assistance with studying in the United States, skills development, training, and professional development programs.

“The American Space network reached over 41 million people globally through nearly 1.5 million engagement programmes and opportunities in 2023.”
The network, which consists of American Centers, American Corners, and Binational Centers, covers 172 American Spaces in 52 countries in Africa alone. Over 1.6 million people participated in over 20,000 live and virtual programs offered by the American Spaces network in Africa last year.

Blinken further said “Nigeria has 10 American Corners spread throughout the Nation’s Universities, libraries, and community centers, in addition to two American Centers in Abuja and Lagos. Nearly 100,000 people were involved in 21 cities by Nigeria’s American Spaces and Affiliates in 2023 through almost 4,400 programs that addressed Entrepreneurship, Media Literacy, Women in Politics, Civic engagement, Education, Creative Industries, and Youth Development.”

“In Nigeria, we are collaborating with Congress to initiate the Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy Hackathon. This is because, as I have discovered, young people, when equipped with technology and an open mind, are able to solve problems and find solutions in ways that those of us who are older, more traditional, and perhaps less tech-savvy, just cannot.”

“To create solutions to economic and environmental challenges, such as addressing plastic pollution or harnessing ocean currents to create energy, we’ll bring together the government, the private sector, and students.”

While we’re doing that, one of the many ways that innovation and learning are supported will be essential to addressing all of these common concerns.

At a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, January 22, 2024, the U.S. Secretary of State announced that the United States Government would assist Nigeria in its social investment initiatives to lessen the pain brought on by the elimination of the gasoline subsidy.