Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03LAGOS1833
2003-09-03 10:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

NIGERIAN EDITOR BECOMES UNABASHED BUSH SISTER

Tags:  KPAO KDEM OEXC SCUL NI 
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UNCLAS LAGOS 001833 

SIPDIS


SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/G/A DSCHUMAN AND EBUTLER; INFO AF/PD
(AAMIRTHANAYAGAM); ABUJA FOR CPAO


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KDEM OEXC SCUL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN EDITOR BECOMES UNABASHED BUSH SISTER

Ref: State 127739


UNCLAS LAGOS 001833

SIPDIS


SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/G/A DSCHUMAN AND EBUTLER; INFO AF/PD
(AAMIRTHANAYAGAM); ABUJA FOR CPAO


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KDEM OEXC SCUL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN EDITOR BECOMES UNABASHED BUSH SISTER

Ref: State 127739



1. Summary: Special Project participant Nkechinyere Nwosu
returned to Nigeria excited about her program. She informed
Post that she had a good experience and that the program
helped change the misconceptions she had about the U.S.,
including the U.S. policies on Iraq and Africa. She said she
learned a great deal about the U.S. foreign policy, U.S.
efforts to fight terrorism and AGOA. Already, she has become
a positive voice for U.S. policies and sound reporting among
the local press. End Summary.



2. Fiscal Year: FY - 2003
Quarter: Third
Date: July 21 - August 1, 2003



3. Nwosu said the program helped her understand the U.S.
policy on Iraq and why the U.S. went to war with Iraq. Sshe
said that she initially thought that the U.S. went to war in
Iraq for the money it would gain from selling Iraqi oil.
After the program, she said she understood that the regime
in Iraq had to be changed so that it would not continue to
endanger its own people and its neighbors.


On Africa, she said that initially the real benefits of AGOA
were not clear but participating in the program had
convinced her that there was a lot for Nigeria and Africa to
benefit from AGOA and that she will now better inform her
audience through her reports.


Overall, Nwosu noted that the program gave her a good
exposure to U.S. foreign policy, American social and
cultural trends and enabled her to understand the evolution
of American policies. She now understands the average
American as being blunt and frank. She added that the
program enabled her to understand how the U.S. balances
security and civil liberties, citing her experiences with
lengthy security checks at U.S. airports.



4. Results: Nwosu has started positively writing about her
experiences. Although her positive comments about the U.S.
have earned her the deragotory nickname "Bush sister," she
is undeterred.


Nwosu also said the program exposed her to the role she
could play as a journalist in creating awareness on
HIV/AIDS.


Locally-based third country diplomats have already offered
unsolicited comments to Mission staff about the quality of
Nwosu's reports. Post expects Nwosu to continue in her self-
professed mission to expose truth, even if it adversely
affects those in high government positions.



5. Post appreciates the opportunity to send one of Nigeria's
finest editors on this program. However, as per Nwosu's
concerns, Post would request at least a small focus on
typicalaverage American citizens' attitudes in future
International Visitor grants.


Hinson-Jones