The U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr John Bray, on Friday said that his government, had this year, spent $381,220 (about N116.27million) as grant awards to Nigerian youths.
Bray, who made the announcement at a grant award recognition ceremony in Lagos, said that the grant awards were given to 30 recipients from the Southern States of Nigeria.
“The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has awarded approximately 381,220 U.S. dollars in Department of State funds to 30 young Nigerian recipients in 2016. All of these recipients are working to solve hugely important problems for your communities in Southern Nigeria.
“The U.S. Mission to Nigeria is proud to stand with you in your efforts, because we share those priorities with you,’’ he said. Bray said that his Consulate was impressed with what the recipients were doing in solving human and environmental problems in their various communities. He said that the recipients were working to empower women and girls, undeserved women, women living with disabilities, as well as training other young entrepreneurs.
Bray also said that the beneficiaries of the grants were also engaged in the environment cleaning and waste recycling, medical care and education of hearing-impaired persons in their communities.
The U.S. Envoy added that some of the beneficiaries were actively engaging themselves in activities that would mitigate human trafficking and reduction of gender-based violence in Nigeria. Bray also said that the Co-Creation Hub, a youth empowerment organisation, also benefited from the grant award to enable it set up a new Priority American Space in Yaba, Lagos.
“The Co-Creation Hub is a partner of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria to set up and operate a new Priority American Space at their business incubation facility in Yaba, Lagos.
“This Priority American Space will, when ready, be a publicly accessible space for Nigerians to access a broad range of information and materials about the United States and our culture,’’ he added.
