The visit between October 18 and 20, 2023 by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS), Joy Basu, to Abuja and Lagos to discuss specific improvements for friendly business environment and economic reforms and others was to deepen U.S.-Nigeria ties.
Basu oversees Economic and Regional Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs.
During her inaugural visit, she met with Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, and gathered government and private sector leaders in Abuja.
She submitted that the United States government was keen at facilitating investments in Nigeria, pointing out that reforms were needed to promote a transparent, trustworthy and conducive investment climate.
In Lagos, Basu brought together women from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), banks and related organisations to bridge the financing gap for women-led firms.
She convened intellectual property lawyers, creative industry experts and content creators to brainstorm on structural changes that would better protect and monetise creative content.
The American ended her trip by connecting U.S. tech startups to state government officials to explore opportunities for an inclusive innovation ecosystem in the country.
“We are building upon the rich connections that exist between our countries – our companies, our entrepreneurs, and our people – to co-create solutions to our common challenges.
“We look forward to working together to discover and deliver better ways forward, not only for the people of Nigeria and America, but also for communities around the world,” she noted.
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, visited on June 19 to establish a bilateral Energy Security Dialogue that would advance shared energy and climate goals.
Under-Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Marisa Lago, was in Lagos from August 13 to 15 to engage government officials and the business community on tangible investments.
Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador, Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Coordinator, Dr. David Walton and Global Fund Executive Director, Peter Sands, completed their September 11 to 13 visits to solidarise as one of the largest donors to Nigeria’s HIV, tuberculosis and malaria response efforts.
Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, the highest ranking Nigerian-American official in the Biden-Harris administration, visited between September 17 and 19 to expand business and investment ties, with focus on entrepreneurship, youth development and women empowerment.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Heather Lanigan, was around between October 16 and 19 to underscore the American government’s commitment to build digital, health, transport and clean energy infrastructure.
