U.S. Consulate opens fourth American Corner in Lagos

The U.S consulate has launched its fourth spaces in Lagos, which would serve as a multi-functional space for youths to develop ideas and explore entrepreneurship skills.

The new America Corner, which would be accessible from Monday to Friday, is located at the former Concord Newspaper premises, Airport Road Ikeja, Lagos State.

At the ceremony, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the opening of America Corner in Lagos futher amplifies the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that a significant aspect of U.S. foreign policy, and a cornerstone of her leadership is investing in people.

“The new American Corner Ikeja will function as a centre where young people develop their ideas, as well as their leadership and entrepreneurship skills through programmes and workshops.”

She applauded the partnership with Venture Garden Group, which hosts the new American Corner. Special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investment , Solape Hammond, representing the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state is developing Africa’s largest technology and entrepreneurship space for young people to enjoy.

“The American Corner Ikeja will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Lagos State Government particularly in broad areas of promoting education and technology learning,” she added.

In their separate remarks, Bunmi Akinyemiju and Kunmi Demuren, Co-founders of Venture Garden Group, explained that the U.S. Consulate General’s partnership with the tech group has been mutually beneficial.

“The American Corner Ikeja directly advances one of our commitments to add value to Nigeria’s efforts to develop and support an educational system that will unlock the expertise, innovative spirit, and entrepreneurial capacity of young Nigerians,” Akinyemiju said.

“We’re delighted that this new American Corner will offer even more opportunities to young people to discover the U.S. as they prepare for their futures,” Demuren said. (The Guardian)

•File: Co-founder, Venture Garden Group, Kunmi Demuren(left); U.S. Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard; Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Solape Hammond; Co-founder, Venture Garden Group, Bunmi Akinyemiju; with Group Head, Venture Garden Group, Tesilimi Yusuf during the grand opening of the American Corner, Ikeja, on Sunday