NIGERIA: CG'S ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS ENUGU'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000060 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK ENERGY FOR PERSON, GAY COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR KSAMPLE STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI SENV CASC NI PHUM SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CG'S ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS ENUGU'S EDUCATIONAL SUCCESSES Sensitive But Unclassified; Handle Accordingly. ¶1. (U) Summary: Consul General Donna Blair visited Enugu, which claims the highest percentage of American citizen residents of any state in Nigeria. The American Corner in Enugu has done educational outreach for more than 1,000 students. Calvary Foundation, recipient of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DHRL) grants, provides a range of educational and health services. Community violence prevented a visit to a project funded by the Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund. End Summary. ¶2. (U) A young state created in 1991 from the old Anambra, the capital city of Enugu was the capital of the former Eastern Region. The state claims the largest coal deposit in Nigeria. The highest percentage of American citizen residents as well as the highest number of state residents spending time in the United States are found here. Governor Sullivan Chime's election had been overturned several days before the Consul General's visit; there was little evidence of the populace's views on the matter. -------------- U.S. Educational Outreach Helps Thousands -------------- ¶3. (U) The Consul General delivered two computers to the Shalom Academy and to the American Corner in Enugu as part of the Mission's Adopt-a-School program. While at the American Corner, she also spoke to approximately 70 members of civil society about the contributions made by Martin Luther King, Jr. to American society. The Enugu State Government oversees the day-to-day running of the center where the American Corner is located, and is an active partner to the Mission's educational and outreach efforts in the state. Over the past year, Educational Advisor Margaret Anyigbo has spoken to more than one thousand students about studying in the United States; she works closely with the Enugu State Education Department in her efforts. ¶4. (U) Consul General Blair also met with Vice Chancellor Chinedu Nebo of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and several principal officers of the University. The university today boasts an enrollment of over 20,000 students, Nebo told the CG, and has added eight new lecture halls with six more planned. Nebo warmly thanked the United States for its support, and said the majority of the principal officers and lecturers at the university were alumni of U.S. colleges. This is reflective of Enugu State, which proportionally sends more of its citizens to study in the United States than most other Nigerian states. After the official reception, Consul General Blair addressed 800 students and faculty to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Students recited the "I Have a Dream" speech for the CG. -------------- Calvary Foundation Continues Excellent Work -------------- ¶5. (U) Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Ugo, both physicians, hosted Consul General Blair at their residence, and thanked her for supporting the Calvary Foundation through DHRL. DHRL and other grants have helped Calvary provide local high school students with civic education, built administrative buildings for the Calvary Foundation Vocational College, and helped Calvary begin a day care center, nursery school and primary school for disadvantaged children, and a human rights institute that provides human rights training for youth. Touring the Calvary Foundation School and the Calvary Bee Keeping Project, the CG learned that more than ten state governments have shown interest in the bee keeping venture. The project encourages local honey and beeswax production LAGOS 00000060 002 OF 002 using modern beekeeping techniques, Mrs. Ugo told the CG. The Ugos are also the Directors of the Nigerian branch of the International First Aid Society. ¶6. (U) In discussing their work and residence, the Ugos shared that, rather than wait for the city, state or federal government to provide an adequate road in their neighborhood, they had spent personal funds to upgrade and repave the road. -------------- -------------- Violence Aborts Planned Trip to Self Help Project -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) A planned visit to an Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund (SSH) project in Oruku Town Nkanu East had to be aborted due to violence in the community. Oruku Town had used the grant to build a three classroom addition at the Comprehensive Secondary School for N3.7 million (or $28,900 at exchange rates in 2004 and 2005, when the grants were awarded). The CG was told that that such low-level tension is common; after several people are killed, the community elders step in and calm the situation. Often several months elapse before the next flare-up. -------------- The American Community in Enugu -------------- ¶8. (U) During a town hall with approximately 30 members of the American community, and consular wardens, the CG learned of issues confronting the population here. As in most other sites visited, great interest in a U.S. Consulate in the eastern part of the country was expressed. The community is concerned about communication, which is hindered by very poor infrastructure. She was also received at the home of International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnus Mrs. Gozie Udemezue, along with thirty members of the local community including lawyers and other professionals. Many of the attendees were long-term residents, including one who moved to the area in 1952. The group expressed strong interest in having more frequent consular visits to the area. ¶9. (U) (Note: A large number of U.S. citizens live in Enugu; many families have a relative working, studying or living in the United States. A large number of Nigerian doctors in the U.S. come from Enugu State. The state government during the First Republic and after the Biafran War granted thousands of scholarships to Enugu residents to study in the United States. End Note.) 10.(U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja. BLAIR