NIGERIA: MISSION PLANS FOR POTUS GHANA SPEECH EVENT

UNCLAS ABUJA 001256 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KPAO NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MISSION PLANS FOR POTUS GHANA SPEECH EVENT REF: STATE 67619 ¶1. (U) Summary. In response to the Department's request for using the POTUS speech in Accra, Ghana, as an opportunity to highlight U.S.-Africa policy, the Mission will hold simultaneous live viewing events in Abuja and Lagos that incorporate interactive information technology (texting, SMS-service, Microsoft Communicator) to support the live event (encouraging social media between Abuja and Lagos) and to spread the message nationwide. Since the speech is on a Saturday, the primary activity will be in Lagos as the Mission expects a larger audience than in Abuja, where the majority of government and civil society contacts leave the capital for the village on the weekends. End summary. Pre-Speech Activities -------------- ¶2. (U) The Mission sent out invitations to a cross section of 100 key high-level contacts from the GON, private sector, media, and civil society to attend a live viewing of the President's speech in Lagos followed by a roundtable discussion on key themes from the speech. The Abuja roundtable event will focus on key media contacts, including the editorial boards, followed by a similar roundtable discussion. In addition, we sent a press release inviting Nigerians to send text messages to President Obama and to receive highlights of his speech. This message, along with information about a DOS Webchat on the speech, will also be disseminated to 1,700 IRC members as well as to our six American Corner coordinators to distribute to their contacts. ¶3. (U) On Friday, July 10, we will use our electronic SMS broadcast service to inform key high-level contacts from the GON, private sector, media, and civil society about the President's speech in Ghana, including when and where it will take place, a brief summary of the purpose of the speech, and which international stations will broadcast the speech so recipients can watch live even in their villages. Day of the POTUS Speech -------------- ¶4. (U) On Saturday, July 11, the Ambassador will host a live viewing of the POTUS speech in Lagos followed by a roundtable discussion on key themes from the speech. Simultaneously, the DCM will chair a smaller press event in Abuja. Both events will incorporate new IT tools to make the event interactive with nationwide coverage. During the roundtable discussions SMS texts will be used to connect the Lagos and Abuja audiences on selected speech themes to incorporate into the discussion in both locations. We will also use instant messaging via Microsoft Communicator. Post-Speech Activities -------------- ¶5. (U) The Mission will continue to promote the POTUS speech after delivery through several activities similar to what was done for the Cairo speech. As soon as commemorative pdf files of the speech as delivered are available, PAS will disseminate to Mission contacts and the media. The Mission's Military Information Support Team (MIST) and PAS will produce commemorative transcripts and DVDs of the speech for mass distribution throughout Nigeria like we did for the Cairo speech. In addition, the text of the speech, discussion questions, and a link to a podcast of the speech will be posted on the U.S. Mission-initiated "Yes Nigeria Can" Google group for civil society leaders, and on the COM blog. Further, the Mission will engage civil society in an online discussion using this Google group venue. Finally, PAS will send a follow-up SMS broadcast to key high-level contacts from the GON, private sector, media, and civil society with a headline and summary of the key messages from the POTUS speech in order to reach Nigerians in all regions of the country. ¶6. (U) This cable has been coordinated with U.S. Consulate Lagos. SANDERS