Last week, U.S. Consul General in Nigeria, Will Stevens, paid a two-day visit to Edo State, highlighting the robust and enduring U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship that fosters inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity for both countries.
Stevens met with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his key cabinet members; the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II; civil society representatives and alumni of U.S. government exchange programmes with whom he discussed the progress made on key mutual priorities, such as health, technology, education, human capital development, trade and investment.
The Consul General was conducted on a tour of the Edo Innovation and Edo Creative Hubs, observing the key role played by U.S. tech companies, such as Amazon Web Services, in training young people, including women, on high-demand digital skills, thereby supporting the development of emerging tech talents in Edo State.
However, Obaseki and Stevens jointly launched the U.S. Agency for International Development-supported Edo State Integrated Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).
The Consul General toured the facility and saw, firsthand, how U.S. government health assistance programmes are helping to build resilient health systems that prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks in the state and across the region.
It was gathered that the newly upgraded PHEOC, the first of its kind in Nigeria, will play a crucial role in analyzing data on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, immunisations, Lassa fever and other public health concerns, enhancing Edo State’s response to emerging health threats.
