The United States Government on Friday inaugurated the first state-of-the art Priority American Space in Yaba, Lagos, to improve Nigeria’s reading culture and access to educational resources.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Stuart Symington, while unveiling the Space, said that it was meant to contribute to Nigeria’s overall development.
“We are pleased to partner with the Co-Creation Hub, a leading force for incubating social entrepreneurship and technological advancement in Nigeria.
“This is about how Nigerians can use the Space to push Nigeria to the next space. We want Nigerians to really take advantage of the huge opportunities in the Space.
“At the Priority American Space in Yaba, Lagos, we are investing in technology and programmes to unleash the creativity of Nigeria’s burgeoning community of innovators,’’ he said.
Symington said that space, equipped with digital technology, was a centre established for Nigerians to develop innovative ideas and learn about the United States and the Americans.
He also said that the Space would provide Nigerians the opportunity to explore possible study options in different U.S. universities, in addition to exposing them to different U.S. cultural programmes.
The U.S. Consulate-General’s Public Affairs Officer in Lagos, Ms Darcy Zotter, said that the Space, which was one of ten U.S. Spaces in Africa, and would be the last to be established in Africa.
Hotter said that was a place where the U.S. Government had prepared to engage, educate and empower Nigerians.
She said that Nigerians would have free access to inspiring books (print and downloadable e-books), e-journals, news analysis platforms, millions of theses and dissertations and others.
“The Space, on 294, Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, provides free internet access for research, cultural, economic, recreational, political and educational information about the U.S.,’’ Zotter added.