The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cultural and educational ties with Osun State through a series of high-level engagements led by the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria.

Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay, who heads the Consulate’s Public Diplomacy team, visited Osogbo and met with traditional, academic, and cultural leaders to advance cooperation in heritage preservation and learning exchange.

During a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Laaroye II, McKay commended the monarch’s role in promoting cultural identity and religious tolerance. She later toured the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, where she inspected conservation works supported by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

“The Osun Sacred Grove is not only a spiritual treasure but a cultural bridge that connects us,” McKay said, praising the grove’s global significance.

She also engaged with prominent U.S. government exchange alumni, including visual artists Chief Jimoh Buraimoh and Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, who continue to mentor young talents through art-based community initiatives.

At the Osogbo Window on America centre, McKay promoted U.S. educational and cultural exchange programmes. She featured on local radio station Rave FM 91.7, where she highlighted ongoing American efforts to partner with Nigerian youth in arts and education.

The visit concluded with a strategic meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Adebayo Bamire, and his team. Discussions focused on deepening academic partnerships and expanding access to digital learning tools through U.S.-Nigeria collaborations.

The U.S. Consulate said the visit reflects Washington’s enduring commitment to grassroots engagement, cultural diplomacy, and academic cooperation in Nigeria.