Agriculture as Part of An Eco-System, and not a Sector & Using PPPP’s

A FEEEDS Series
 
I have previously discussed new and innovative approaches to both agriculture and public-private partnerships (PPP) - arguing actually to expand the matrix of PPP's to include public-to-public sector partnerships or adding a fourth P (The Africa Post - http://bit.ly/4-Ps ). There is a need for more public sector entities to come together to share both resources and expertise to get development accomplished.  Public sector entities that have responsibilities for improving agriculture, housing, water and sewage management, the environment, and spuring manufacturing should move out of their stove piped bureaucracies and develop PPPP vehicles that cut across their sectors. This type of innovative thinking needs to be done particularly in agriculture in order to address food security -- especially in Africa -- since land, water, and environmental management are not separate from agriculture or long term food security. 

In essence the PPPP approach (meaning adding public-to-public sector projects and policies) views agriculture as part of an eco-system, and not a stand-alone sector, which of course it is not.  These public sector-to-public sector approaches can be linked with getting expertise from non-profit and for profit organizations, companies, and international donors with the flexibility to work in a synergistic manner across sectors.  Very few large international donors have this flexibility, but the British development agency DFID probably comes closest. Country donors like the Japanese and south-south nations like Vietnman are closer than others to appreciating the seminal point that agriculture is part of an eco-system.


One such model that is pioneering this new thought is - Songhai Integrative Farms Systems in the Republic of Benin. It presents the answer to changing the age old paradigm of vertical agricultural development. Although this old paradigm served as the model for decades, it did not worked; was ineffective; and in the end, was detrimental to the overall GDP of nearly all African countries pursuing this standard historical approach to agriculture after their independence in the 1960s. Historically, donors equally have been guilty of  not thinking out of the box, or even next to the box on agriculture, although that is changing with more value chain focused agriculture projects like USAID’s Markets Initiative http://1.usa.gov/XhDnHF ).

 Songhai sees the importance of a systems approach to agricultural development adding training and technology as well as an incubator framework to help farming entrepreneurs, and build linkages with academic and research institutions around the world in support.  There are more and more new thinkers coming on board and seeing agricultural as part of a system as opposed to a sector.  But they are far and few in between. Efforts to really have food security spur agricultural self-sufficiency and truly have a workable, sustainable value chain to support commodities, advance regional trade, and combat the cycles of drought and famine that we have seen in both East and West Africa, and the world are not being wholistically addressed or viewed by many development entities as connected issues. 

The Eco-System, rather than the Sectoral approach to agriculture needs to be pursued by a lot more countries, donors, and agriculturally focused non-government organizations and companies with this CRS manadate for their truly to be a paradigm shift and success in agricultural development.     

My Interview with THISDAY Newspaper

On Thursday, July 8, 2010, I was interviewed by THISDAY Editors when I was received at the Ikoyi residence of THISDAY Chairman Nduka Obaigbena. The story was titled: Sanders: 2011 is transformative for Nigeria with a rider Govt free to pursue legal case in NLNG bribery scam. The highlight of the interview was featured on the July 9th edition of the newspaper.

According the newspaper, "United States ambassador to Nigeria Ms Robin Renèe Sanders has urged the Nigerian government and Nigerians to muster enough political will to make democracy work by ensuring free and fair elections next year. She also said the Federal Government is free to initiate a legal case against companies such as Halliburton who have been heavily fined by the US for giving bribes to Nigerian public officials in order to secure contracts..."

Furthermore, I encouraged "the voters and politicians in Nigeria should do the right thing by choosing their candidates and show they are committed to democracy." I was quoted as saying that my "country's offer of technical assistance as no sufficient guarantee for free and fair elections, stressing the need for adequate political will from all participants in the process which 'must have to be enforced by someone down the line'.”

I told them ... “It is your election. It is your voice and your choice and all about voting for a change that would make Nigeria strong and vibrant... We provided technical assistance in 2007 and we’re providing a lot of technical assistance now…2011 is a transformative time for Nigeria. You’ve got to have the political will to get to a point where a lot of things would happen in a sustainable manner.”

On the visa revocation of the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, I was quoted by the paper that “Yes, we revoked the visa and that’s how it was, the rest is a privacy issue. I won’t go into the details of why there was a visa revocation."

On whether Nigeria should receive part of the $338 million fine which a US court ordered Technip to pay, in respect of the $180 million bribe allegedly paid to unnamed senior government officials by Halliburton, I said “The department of justice has executed the case and they were fined after criminal charges…Nigeria's attorney-general is at liberty to pursue his own case against the companies"

On the blacklisting of Nigeria by the US after the attempted downing of a Detroit-bound Delta Airliner by Umaru Farouk Abdulmutallab last December, I said that “the type of policy we had that time was not a nationality designated one. I and my staff had to go through the same security check as well. It was not a nationality designation and unfortunately that is how it is viewed here. It is a worldwide policy and we had a number of meetings with Nigerian aviation authorities to enforce safety regulations.”

On whether US President Barrack Obama may likely visit Nigeria in the near future, I noted that that President Obama and President Goodluck Jonathan met in April and held fruitful discussions.

The following is quoted directly from the paper:

"She recalled the speech of the US president where he stated the importance of Nigeria on the world scene including the leadership role the country has to play on the African continent.
'They talked about credible election, development and moving forward. We have respect for the leadership role of Nigeria on the continent and you’re now a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We want the best for Nigeria because you are one of our best friends,' Sanders said. On Nigeria’s quest to become a permanent member of the UN, she said that the US currently supports article 23 of the world body which outlines the steps to becoming a permanent member."

"The ambassador also spoke on the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, explaining that the working group on the Niger Delta would meet soon. On food security and agriculture, she stated that the 'US is doing a lot towards food security and Nigeria is one of the recipients of the largest food security programmes that we have and this year, $25 million will be worked out as the year goes forward,' she said."

It is Your Election – Manage It Well! - Remarks By Dr. Sanders at NIM

It is Your Election – Manage It Well!

Address to
The Nigerian Institute of Management

By
Dr. Robin Renée Sanders, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria
On the Occasion of the Annual Distinguished Management Lecture, July 1, 2010 – Lagos

All other protocols duly observed

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the Press.

Thank you for inviting me to speak on the topic of “Management of the Electoral Process: An Imperative for Democratic Governance of the Nigerian State.” I want to congratulate the Nigerian Management Institute and its role in promoting multi-disciplinary discussion of the best ways to manage the challenges and opportunities that Nigeria will face, particularly as regards to elections. Certainly the topic I was asked to speak on is really the topic of discussion in the polity of this country today given that Nigeria has several key milestones approaching: The celebration of 50 years of independence as well as a pivotal point in your democratic experience as you seek to hold not only a free and fair election, but a credible one. Let’s take the first milestone first. Fifty years, that is big step for a mature nation. It is a time for both celebration and reflection. So let’s celebrate first. Let’s celebrate that . . . you are a dynamic country in both energy and force of resources and that your nation will shape the future of the region and of the continent.

Let’s celebrate that you as Nigerians embrace democracy . . . … and the principles of democracy and have had two peaceful transitions of power from one head of state to another.

And, let’s celebrate your respect and presence on the world stage as your nation assumes its rightful place as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. These are things to marvel at . . . These are things to celebrate!

So now let’s talk about the things you may want to reflect on as you reach 50 years of the life of a nation . . . looking back on where you have come from . . . where you are going . . . and what challenges lay ahead. I have been here a long time now . . . and truly feel that I am at home and . . . a family member . . . and as a member of the family these are the things I wonder about as Nigeria moves forward and begins its 51st year in 2011. I want to start with the challenges that I have heard Nigerians talk about in the agriculture, health, and education sectors, and the need to fight corruption. So let’s talk about these issues a bit before we move on to the next milestone – elections -- because for me all of these things are legs of the same democracy stool. Strong democracies are not just about election but a number of things – particularly in development.

I just wanted to share some information with you as food for thought today…food for reflection as you collectively think about where you want your nation to be, your home to be given that you are management specialists and taking stock of your nation at this pivotal time. So I just want to provide you with some statistics to consider as regards to these three key sectors.

Let’s begin with agriculture. Nigeria hosts the largest population in Sub-Saharan Africa of 150 million people . . . with a growth rate of 2.2 per cent . . . Feeding this many people can prove to be a daunting task... The agricultural sector contributes 42% to this nation's GDP . . . and accounts for 80% of the jobs in Nigeria. But currently you import . . . 1.4 million tons of rice a year more than any . . .other . . . country in the world and you are one of the largest importers of wheat in the world as well. Why? You have the talent, and both the human and natural resources to be self-sufficient in any stable crop you choose, particularly these two. The United States Government has pledge 37 million dollars to help Nigeria become more food secure… working to make subsistence farmers more commercial; developing drought-resistance crops; and, aiding farmers in developing markets.

In education, teachers are critical to quality education. At present only 59% of the 600,000 primary school teachers have the minimum required qualification, the National Certificate in Education, as stated in your Ministry of Education’s Statistics of Education in Nigeria (1999-2005). We do applaud the Ministry's current approach to reforms of teacher education. However, according to the Nigeria EdData Survey 2004, conducted by Nigeria’s National Population Commission, over 72% of Nigeria's children aged 4 to 12 lack basic functional numeracy and literacy skills. Girl child education lags behind that of boys, with some reports having 51 per cent of girls not attending primary school. The United States Government provides technical assistance in the development of the revised National Teacher Education Policy . . . and the Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program provides text books, uniforms and shoes, and scholarships to over 9,000 girls and boys attending schools in 13 states throughout Nigeria. . . . a literate and numerate citizenry is the foundation of any democratic society.

Nigerians also tell me they want a strong health care system that can provide basic health care. The United States Government and the American people worked hand-in-hand with Nigeria's health care professionals to care and treat – and more importantly prevent – some of the major diseases many Nigerians face: polio . . . malaria . . . tuberculosis . . . and HIV/AIDS. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (better known as PEPFAR) alone has committed nearly $400 million a year for Nigeria. On malaria we will be increasing resources in this area under President Obama’s Malaria Initiative in the tune of $51 million dollars, including a campaign to provide bed-nets to every household in Nigeria. As management leaders I just want to highlight one statistic that I think you will find interesting. Nigerian Government expenditures towards HIV/AIDS programs in 2008 according to a recent report by your own National AIDS Coordination Agency or NACA and UNAIDS stated that only 4.5 billion naira is spent on preventing and fighting HIV/AIDS yearly, so it is interesting to read in the press the proposed budget of somewhere between 10-62 billion naira on Nigeria’s 50th anniversary celebrations ... remember we are in the reflection stage of our discussion this morning. A more realistic beginning figure for Nigeria to truly start combating HIV/AIDs is at least 27 billion or 15% of the funding noted by the goals set in your 2010 National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework.

Then there is Power. Development depends on adequate, reliable supplies of power ... to run factories, light offices and homes, process foods, power computers in schools and run diagnostic equipment in clinics… But we no longer notice the steady noise from standby generators . . . the fact that we no longer notice is not a good thing. Nigeria struggles with the power it needs to grow and it doesn't have the transmission capacity to move the power it has to where it needs to be. Our countries agree that reform of the energy sector is crucial to attracting investment and promoting development. The United States provides technical assistance through USAID . . . USTDA, and the Department of Energy… to help in the power sector, especially on independent power projects. I have signed at least five of these grants since I have been here. On corruption, you must make stemming corruption the order of the day as it will under cut development at every turn, including affecting your electoral process. Our assistance supports the development of hydro-electric power, regulatory frameworks, and renewable energy.

So with this backdrop of where you are, where do you want to go with your next election in 2011? You hold the power to ensure that your 2011 elections . . . are elections all Nigerians can be proud of . . . can respect and that can . . . move the country forward.

Your friends like America want that too, and we are committed to working with you. So what are we doing? We are supporting civil society organizations, providing technical assistance to INEC to encourage a more transparent voter registry, and training political parties so they can play a more transparent and effective role in the 2011 electoral process. We also are helping INEC review its overall operational planning for the upcoming elections; providing training to 7,000 domestic and 100 international observers, and training 8,000 civil society members to conduct quick vote counts in key states to validate voting at the polls and advocate against election fraud and violence.

We see the appointment of the new INEC leadership .… as a positive step toward the management of credible elections. There appears right now to be insufficient time to create a new voter registration list; however, INEC must do all it can in the time remaining to ensure that the current list is as accurate as possible…. The National Assembly has appropriated funding for INEC … but reports are that funds are yet to be disbursed into INEC election account in order for it to truly begin the hard work of operationalizing its plan, updating the registry, and addressing logistics, and distribution of materials.

Constitutional amendments put forth by the national assembly are pending with the thirty-six state legislatures. Among the issues addressed, these amendments will determine the date of the election, a decision that must be made soon.

Remember . . . democracy is about government by the consent of the governed…. Elections matter because it is through elections that you as Nigerians will choose the people who will lead you, represent your interests, and address the issues that we already noted in the reflection of your 50 years of independence. Again, as management leaders I want to leave you with some stark statistics to think about because time is running out on getting many things done . . . and done in time. Consider this example. If your elections are in early 2011, say in January or February, every month from now until then you would need to either register or verify the registry of nearly 13 million voters…meaning everyday (every day) you would need to register or verify the registry of 500,000 voters, or 50,000 voters every hour in order to be ready on election day. For polling places, we understand that your need is approximately 120 thousand polling sites with 20-40,000 satellite locations. What this may mean is every month you need to establish 25,000 polling sites, 1000 per day, 100 per hour. This is a daunting task, but I have faith in you. I was asked to speak today about the management of the election processes . . . and these are the tasks that are before you . . . these are the management issues before you . . . to get you to . . . at process . . . that is transparent . . . and a credible election.

Then of course there is political will. That is always the variable. All of the technical assistance in the world cannot overcome a lack of commitment by every single player in the political process to do right by the voter – from the ruling party to the polling site manager. That has always been the challenge. And, we hope that in your 50th year . . . as a maturing democracy that this is no longer the case.

As your friend, we want you to succeed. But we can't want it more than every single Nigeria does -- from the elite to the farmer. This is your country. . . These are your choices. As you approach the 2011 elections, choose your leaders wisely. Expect more of them. Hold them accountable. Remember, the essence of democracy is the power of the people . . . and each and every voter.

I remember being taken to register to vote as soon as I turned 18 years of age. My parents – who grew up in a segregated South of the United States, whose parents and grandparents, faced challenges to their right to vote . . . instilled in me the importance and the power of the vote. Since that time . . . I have never missed voting for the President of my nation because I knew that my single vote can and did make a difference. I have heard that desire from every single Nigerian I meet. I wish you well in 2011! But time is of the essence. Be wise and know that the people of the United States stand with you, as one of your best friends, and we want the very best for our best friend – credible, transparent elections in 2011. Thank you.

POTICO - Agricultural Event, June 1-2, 2010

On June 1-2 in Lagos, we celebrated the 3rd annual POTICO event, or POTICO III, to again focus on the need to development Nigeria's agricultural sector. POTICO means the Partnership on Trade, Industry, and Commerce and it is a tripartite effort among the Bank of Industry (BOI), the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, and First Bank (one of the leading banks in Nigeria). This year's POTICO stressed the importance of agricultural infrastructure development. Four U.S. Government agencies participated in POTICO this year, along with such Nigerian headline leaders such as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Group Managing Director (GMD) and CEO of First Bank. Innovative private sector companies such as MARKETS, the NGO CDC Development Solutions, and a leading Nigerian entrepreneur who was featured in Time Magazine for his efforts in agricultural, also made presentations. The goal from this POTICO is to have deliverables such as better web-based and mobile access to information, and expand BOI representation through Nigeria. The 2009 deliverable for POTICO was the establishment of the U.S.-BOI AGOA Resource Center on Lagos Island.

Transcript of Ambassador Robin R. Sanders on NTA ‘One On One’ Interview

Wednesday April 21, 2010 from 13:30-14:30

Presenter: The true recognition of the independence of each country… the relations between Nigeria and the United States have seen some bumpy patches and very interesting times. From the sanction ridden posture era during the Abacha regime to the friendlier times of General Abubakar and its still getting friendlier still today. An estimated one million Nigerians live, study and work in the United States while over twenty-five thousand Americans live and work in Nigeria. Commerce and Human development are definitely central to our relations. And to discuss this in greater details is my guest today. My guest … you’ll meet my guest if you don’t go away.

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Presenter: My guest is no stranger to the politics and governance issues in Africa, having served as director for Africa at the National Security council at the White House, a former director for Public Diplomacy for Africa for the State Department and a former US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Please welcome Robin Renee Sanders (RRS), the United States Ambassador to Nigeria. Madam a very warm welcome to you.

RRS: Thank you.

Presenter: Err… Madam, diplomacy is all about jostling, isn’t it? Err, we must recollect that Nigeria was a former British colony and the Unites States was not in the picture all of that time but these days we seem to feel a greater pull by the United States than we do from Great Britain. Is that a true portrayal of the situation?

RRS: I’m not sure of what you mean by “pull” but I do know that the United States and Nigeria share a lot of common values, a common vision of the future and I think that there is such a strong connection between the people of Nigeria and the people of the United States. And so you have mainly those linkages have made us really not only close friends but certainly close partners on the global stage.

Presenter: But Madam, when we talk about friends and partners, are we dealing with each other as equals?

RRS: It depends on what you mean by equals. I think that each nation sees the other with respect ,I also think that we have shared values that range from democracy and good governance, we have shared cultural connections as well, and so u know as far from where I seat, my time here, I think that there is a strong partnership and friendship. And you know friendships have different phases as well. Maybe that’s what you are alluding to but I think that the best intentions are always made on our part and I certainly know they are always made on the Nigerian part.

Presenter: Well, sometime ago when the Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton visited Nigeria, she spoke at a number of fora and some Nigerians believe that some of her remarks were every scathing. Okay, it may be the truth from the American stand point, but it was put in a manner that made us seem an appendage of the United States. Is that cynical ? Is that a cynical interpretation by some of the way she spoke?

RRS: Yes, I may think so. I think that any friendship has an ability to build in a number of ways and I think what the secretary did here; she reached out to as many Nigerians as possible. What she said basically is really… she repeated what she’s heard from Nigerians and so I think that if it’s taken in good faith, then that was her intention of course and that she was only sharing what she had heard from Nigerians and throughout the whole day. In fact I believe you are referring to that town hall meeting which was at the last part of her trip here. And she wanted to do it that way so that she has heard from a range of Nigerians all through the day so her whole statement really reflective of what she heard through the course of her time here.

Presenter: But usually when you have people from the United States, particularly, the high echelon of the administration visiting Nigeria, do you have something like a brief in the Embassy here in Nigeria to those dignitaries, to give them a picture because it’s not sufficient to hear they took all by what the man on the street says and feels.

RRS: Well of course, I think every Embassy does that for an esteemed official that is visiting a host country but in terms of the sectors she interacted with when she was here, I think it wasn’t sort of the man on the street only. She met with civil society, she met with the press, she met with former government officials, she met with former heads of states, she met with sitting government officials and she really had a cross section of interaction that gave her a very good foundation of what Nigerians want for Nigeria.

Presenter: Ok Madam there is this talk now, it seems to be a front burner; the Bi-National Commission (BNC). Is it an agreement between Nigeria and the United States? What exactly does it say or what does it intend to do?

RRS: Right. It is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The agreement was signed April 6th. In fact I attended that signing ceremony between the Secretaries of the United States and that of Nigeria. Basically we wanted to raise our strategic dialogue on a number of issues. There are four working groups that are being proposed. This is a partnership agreement so we are still discussing the framework of the working groups… we are looking at…

Presenter: (cuts in) So the agreement is not yet effective?

RRS: No it is effective. It was effective as of the day of the signatures. But it’s sort of a strategic dialogue. As you know dialogues have different frameworks as they develop. We‘ll like to start with four working groups, and they are; Governance, Transparency, Integrity. We have one on Energy and Investment, the Niger Delta Regional Security and the Agricultural Development and Food Security. The idea is these talks about… between the two governments… as areas of mutual interest and mutual understanding and areas that we thought that we could build a stronger partnership. So the working groups were discussed so the theme and the titles of those working groups are based on a number of conversations between our two governments. Since the secretary is visiting she announced along with the Nigerian Government that they will be building this dialogue together.

Presenter: Let’s talk about the Niger Delta. It’s an area that is dear to all of our hearts, the heartbeat of oil production. In what ways are you intending to dialogue with Nigeria in regard to… in relation to the Niger Delta?

RRS: Well, we’re hoping that … we’ll talk about... building on the amnesty that is being put in place by the Nigerian Government. You know it was very important to hear what the acting president got to say when he visited Washington. We talked a lot about trying to move forward along with the Niger Delta, rehabilitation, reconstruction and re-integration. So we will be supportive of those areas. The strategic dialogue is also to really hear the government perspective on how it wants to move forward with this and we will find a way to support… our partnership will support those efforts. So, in regards to the Niger Delta, those are the three area of focus for the Nigerian Government, so we will supportive of those efforts. I think that everybody wants to see the best for the Niger Delta; they really want the region to be a peaceful area for the sustainable future. We also know that there are legitimate economic and developmental issues in the delta so all of all these are on the table for discussion and for finding a way to be supportive of the vision that the acting president outlined for… what he plans to do in the Niger Delta?

Presenter: Madam, when does interest tend to appear like interference? Isn’t there a very thin line, you know, sovereign government set up to priotise what they do for people and I’m saying this because when you talk about the Niger Delta in this matter, some people will say ‘what’s the interest? What’s the real interest of the United States? Is it... is it because that area produces oil? Do you want to secure the area so that at one point you can use it to your advantage? Is that... Is that what it’s all about?

RRS: Of course not. I get that question quite often and I remember the Secretary also got the question too. As I started out saying, the Bi-National Commission which we referred to as the BNC, using the initials of the commission, the BNC. These were areas that are worked out over several months between the two governments so we didn’t impose this. We are working with the Nigerian Government. We wanted to have a strategic dialogue; we talked about things that are important to Nigeria, where they’ll like to see our support, our help on, our partnership on. Those were the areas so we didn’t choose those areas in a singular manner. That been said, the vision that the acting president has as I pointed out, are being highlighted we plan to be supportive on those areas so it’s a Nigerian vision for the Niger Delta so we plan to be supportive of those areas. As I already outlined, its development, its education, it is making those things sustainable in the Niger Delta; the real concerns of the Niger delta people can be addressed. And I really do think that with the acting president mentioned in the US; re-integration, rehabilitation and restructuring in terms of infrastructures development are really important and we will like to be supportive of that.

Presenter: Food security is very important also because a nation who is not secure in its food production has its flanks wide open. How exactly do you intend to assist Nigeria?

RRS: We’ve already been working extensively on the food security area. Let me just expand the definition because we use a very broad definition for food security. It includes working with agro-business and agro development. Working with farmer cooperatives, working with development of hybrid seeds that are drought resistant, helping with transport issues from farming area to city area for marketing regional integration. So we use a broad definition for food security. And we do a lot of… many many years, the President of the United States has a signature initiative under food security of which Nigeria is getting 25million dollars to really support your agricultural sector…

Presenter: ( cuts in) Have you really identify what sector, from the huge agricultural sector you want to support…

RRS: As I noted before, transportation, getting products from the farms to the market, it is also agro-business development, it includes hybrid seeds to make you have a better crop resistance where that is a challenge, it includes developing markets within the region so that Nigerian products can be sold more widely. It also includes those linkages for export to the Unites States. So we’ve always done quite a bit in food security and no we are going to build on that more. We have a market program here, we’ve had three seminal events… we will have the third one in June, but we’ve had two seminal events, since I have been here called the Portico, which is a range of…

Presenter: (cuts in) Called what?

RRS: PORTICO… and it’s a range of practical workshops and seminars for financing for agriculture. This year’s event will look at agricultural infrastructure development. So we’ve always done things on food security and this way there will be more emphasis on finding ways to further develop not only business based here. I have been to two or more factories we’ve been working with over the years and its really incredible to see, you know two thousand or more farmers come together in cooperative manner so they can not only make more money for themselves, for their families but they are now part of an export platform because they are producing more as a group. They’ve been able to export within the region, within Nigeria and hopefully export outside of Nigeria

Presenter: You’ve talked about cooperation, food security and what you are doing for farmers and all of that, and I remember that a few years back there was this other agreement called AGOA, emerging economies in Nigeria were supposed to go... benefit… to have benefited from. Did we really take advantage of it?

RRS: AGOA isn’t an agreement. AGOA was a trade facility for 36 nations in Africa. And what that facility, does do still today is to provide duty free exports to the United States of some 6800 products of which a good bit of those products are agricultural products. What PORTICO has done and what some of our other programs have done is to really try to enhance those areas that your government has identified they want to take advantage of for AGOA. You have a number of products that your Ministry of Agriculture has focused on for AGOA export and we work with the agro-businesses and farmers who are working in those areas and they range from Shea butter to ginger to legal good … they a range of agricultural products...

Presenter: Madam, in all of these, is there an initiative for private entrepreneurs? You made it seem like it’s a government to government thing.

RRS: No I said agro-business and agro-business is not government to government and I have talked of factories that I have gone to visit to see how our food security program is doing... in fact the last time I was here I was actually at an agribusiness in Lagos and it’s the only one of its kind in the whole of West Africa and it changes cassava to glucose and glucose as so many people know is used for so many things from soft drinks to enhancing agricultural products. And that is part of our program here, to take something that is nascent, to try and support it to become a big agro-business. This was a tremendous example of a success story. Not only it’s the only one in Nigeria, it’s the only one in West Africa and they are now doing exports to other areas in West Africa.

Presenter: Sometimes what we hear over the airwaves can rather be misleading because you talk about BNC, Bi-National Commission; I thought you would have mentioned joint security. The impression that we got in some quarters that this was also a kind of security arrangement because there have been talks about an African High Command in which the United States will make troops available or send military high commands from the United States to train in areas of Africa for rapid intervention, is that on the…

RRS: I think err…let me just start with the base of your question and correct some of the facts there. First of all, African Command…the headquarters of African command is in Stuttgart. I remember dealing with this issue when I first arrived Nigeria; I am still surprised that there is still an issue with that. African Command is like any other entity in the US Government. It supports what we do here on the ground in a number of areas including humanitarian assistance and training, all kinds of things so the four working groups that I outline to you already on the BNC is what we agree to as two nations. We already do trainings, we already supports the efforts of the Nigerian military in so many areas with regard to training, now I should probably be saying more capacity building and we will continue to do that and we can certainly look to expand those programs under the BNC.

Presenter: So before the BNC came into being there was bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States on what grounds? What were the … what where the high points?

RRS: Well you know, what the BNC does is really… err... it’s not a departure from our existing bilateral relations, it’s an enhancement to our bilateral relations where we can have strategic framework to expand and further discuss a range of issues. So I wouldn’t say that is a departure in anyway, I think we have always have bilateral relationship and all these things have always been part of our bilateral relationship, they are not new to our bilateral relationship in any way. We had a number of things from healthcare… we have a tremendous PEPFAR program here which is our program for HIV/AIDS, we have 400 million dollar project here which is the largest we have in Africa … we have …

Presenter: (cuts in) What determines that?

RRS: I beg your pardon?

Presenter: What determines that? That you pour in so much money into particular programs in Nigeria as opposed to other African nations?

RRS: Well, because Nigeria is an important country to the United States and we want to be helpful in just about every sector we are asked to be helpful. We want to be helpful in the health sector, in the education sector, in the food security sector, we are asked to be helpful in democratic programs ranging from support and training to civil societies. We feel and we hope that it seen in the partnership framework because we always respond to what we are asked to be supportive of. We feel like our bilateral relationship is a multi-focused framework where we are very supportive of every framework in the society and that society in this case is Nigeria.

Presenter: But talking about being supportive ma’am, you… as I said earlier on, there seems to be a very thin line between support and interference and when we’re talking about democracy, as President Obama said “each country practice its own democracy must build democratic values, must build that practice in relation to the culture and needs of their people.” Now does anybody have a right? Yes you have … you should assist and support … does anybody have a right to say, we are to model our democracy, pattern it against what goes on in the United States or elsewhere?

RRS: I don’t know if anybody has said that. It’s certainly not on our side. And I will like to sort of really address the interference question because I think that’s really an unfair comment for a number of reasons. I think I stated in the beginning of our interview really highlighting that we responded to what we’ve been asked, either by the government or by a particular sector, whether it’s the agricultural sector, by the health and education sector or certainly whether its by an area of development that we have resources to be able to support that on request. We really try to do that for Nigeria because we care about Nigeria. A lot about Nigeria... we think our shared values are the same and certainly I don’t see anything that we are doing be considered interference…. (Presenter tries to cut in)… Let me finish……we are responding to what was been asked either from any of those sectors including the government sector.

Presenter: Yeah, but when we have it in record, I don’t know if it’s on good record, that the views of... it could be the views of the Embassy, maybe the view of the American Government that the [Independent] National Electoral Commission (INEC) leadership should be changed. Isn’t that interference?

RRS: I think in any kind of democratic society and democratic friendship, you should be able to say what you feel... that’s what democracy is about.

Presenter: Is that how you feel?

RRS: I think that we do feel very very strongly that …, let me just prefix that by also saying this is what we hear from Nigerians that INEC needs to have a stronger leadership so that your next election can be elections that all Nigerians could be proud of.

Presenter: When you say ‘stronger leadership”, what exactly do you mean?

RRS: I mean the entire leadership of the INEC needs to be stronger so that ….

Presenter: In terms of what?

RRS: Well, really I mean in terms of ability to conduct elections that is credible, in terms of ability to conduct elections that will be transparent, in terms of ability to have a transparent voter’s registration so that you can have credible elections. And clearly, whatever I am saying you can you know, turn to a particular page of the Uwais report and see exactly what I am saying to you today. You know we try to meet with as many stakeholders as possible and so what we articulate is what we have heard Nigerians say for themselves. And you can actually... if you really go back to, even this past immediate trip of the acting president; those were those things that your delegates said through your acting president while he was there.

Presenter: Why do the next elections, the general elections in 2011, that’s about less than a year from now seem to mean so much to you?

RRS: I think simply we care about Nigeria and would love to see Nigeria hold elections that Nigerians will be proud of and we want to be supportive of that interest. It’s been interesting for me to travel throughout the country to have visited all of the States; it’s the one thing that I hear the most. That we want to have credible elections. You are a vibrant democracy, you are 150 million people strong, you have even the most creative, dynamic environment that I have ever had the pleasure of being a guest in .I think it is important to you as a leader and beacon in Africa to be able to have elections that your people will be proud of.

Presenter: And you think just getting the elections right will give us… change potentials you have enumerated into kinetics?

RRS: Well of course, we all know in a society there is no magic wand, they are building blocks. And certainly having a credible election is a key building block and it’s a platform for anything you want to discuss. If you don’t have that then how does everything else go forward? Because it is about transparent leadership, it’s about good leadership, it’s about capable leadership and the path of getting there starts with a credible lection…

Presenter: Yes Ma’am, there are those who will respond by saying that, even in the United States, after over 200 years of democracy, what happened during the election between Bush and Al Gore… wasn’t a model of democracy, was it?

RRS: I know what I am saying... there is a model out there I didn’t say that. I truly believe that the framework for democracy is fluid, it’s never static. Even if you really read our constitution, particularly the preamble, it says ”striving to be a more perfect union”, in fact my national day speech when we do our national day in February was just that theme; striving to be a more perfect union because democracy is our preference, the key is to strive to be that way and there are some fundamental ingredients there and the elections is part of those fundamentals.

Presenter: What if some people argue, saying that we are striving and that a child has to first of all crawl before the walk. Pushing us a little too far afield and too hard, is that a fair comment? Would that be a fair comment?

RRS: I don’t think so. Why wouldn’t we want to push our friends to do better? You are an extra ordinary friend of the United States and we are an extra-ordinary friend of yours and one thing about friendship is that you should be able to have a dialogue, an honest dialogue that “okay friend, you might need to work on this a bit”... And I think that our best intention. And certainly as I said before, it’s what we’ve heard Nigerians say and what they’ve asked us to be helpful on.

Presenter: Well, you know the… one thing about the United States, I am not trying to compare the United States with Nigeria, is the homogeneity of language so to speak. Here we have, as you must have found out in the course of your travel all over, we have different people and different culture and that are lines of thinking personalities. It can be used in a positive way for political growth but it also has its negatives. Have you seen the negatives in the course of your travels in Nigeria?

RRS: Actually, I come from a point of view that diversity is strength and the strength of any nation is based on its diversity. And I think that is one of the strengths of Nigeria to have such a diverse population. And… but I also truly believe that democracy is about trying to find a way so that diversity is used in the best manner possible. And you know, in the history of any country, even ours, when I look at the history of the United States, we’ve had to stumble and fall and been able to walk through in a lot of ways… and as I said democracy is not perfect, there is no one saying there is a mode out there… but you just must continue to strive in the right direction.

Presenter: You have spoken also about energy and investment and the BNC commencing… particularly, how are you going to help us grow our energy distribution and production?

RRS: Well you know, one of the things I really do want to make clear is that even though we are framing this under the BNC, we have been doing a lot of these things all along. And certainly in the energy sector we have done a lot of technical assistance. We have a number of US Government agencies that are very active in the energy area. Mostly, recently I would say are into … being supportive of independent power project, that can help generate additional mega wattage and we have been helpful in technical assistance in gas pipeline. We’ve been helpful in technical assistance in finding alternative energy sources from solar to bio-fuels. So all these things we’ve been doing all along and we look to enhance those under the BNC.

Presenter: Madam you spoke about food security a while ago and it wasn’t quite… you spoke about it succinctly and I’d like you to be more specific in how you intend to help us manage our structure in such a way that within the near future we can really boast and beat our chest that food security wise, we are up there?

RRS: Well I think there are some fundamentals on food security that I have already outline them so I will just cut right to the chase. I think if you have strong transportation … to move your products, if you have all the proper custom systems so that not only the fundamentals of building agricultural sector can come in with the right export regime… you as Nigeria will really opening up the ECOWAS fixed tariff so that you have a more balanced import regime or base product that are needed for agriculture. Expanding your agro-businesses so that not only would they do production sufficient enough to help Nigeria feed itself but they do production sufficient enough particularly for crops, to export not only within Nigeria but certainly within the region and I think there is also some fundamentals of capacity building and financing for agriculture that we help with. We have EXIM bank which is another US Government entity that has 14 banks that it is working with here to provide agricultural facility for farmers. We have Food and Agricultural Services, which is part of our Department of Agriculture that also, have a similar credit facility. We help with base import for a lot of products. It is interesting that you asked that question because Nigeria just became one of the biggest importers of US wheat to be able to make enough bread for your population. You just surpassed…You were number 2 in the world last year; you just surpassed to be number 1.

Presenter: (cuts in) Is that a good thing?

RRS: I think it’s a… it’s a…

Presenter: (cuts in) Because we talked a while ago about import substitution, we tried to grow wheat here sometime ago but it wasn’t conducive...

RRS: Right. I think it’s a good thing because the processing is done here so it provide jobs, it provides an ability for you to be… to provide enough wheat for the amount of bread and flour that you need right here… rice, pasta and everything. I have been to several of the factories here and they are using US wheat and they have really been able to expand because of that. It provides jobs. The other part of the food security question is the job aspect of it. Because when you have agro-businesses develop, when you have farmers working together in large cooperatives, you are helping in also creating jobs.

Presenter: Madam, I‘ll take a break now, my producers are asking me to. Well viewers, thank you for spending part of your time with us, this is One on One for this day with Robin Sanders, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria. We’ll take your text messages, phone calls and e messages to make the program more collaborative, please don’t go away.

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Presenter: Thank you very much for spending part of your time with us, this is One on One for this day with Robin Renee Sanders, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria. Madam, let me begin by taking a number of text messages, the first is from Musa Iloh from Abuja. He says “why is America interested in good governance in Africa particularly in Nigeria? How is it beneficial?”

RRS: It’s not a question of us benefiting; it’s a question of benefiting Nigeria. I know we talked earlier about good elections sort of forming the base of any democracy so it really benefits Nigeria. Because we care about Nigeria we want to be supportive of that interest.

Presenter: Madam, after 9/11 in 2002, the whole security landscape around the world changed and the United States kind of became extremely watchful and then sometimes towards the end of last year we had an incident involving a Nigerian that… then made you put Nigeria on a watch list. Has all that been resolved in such a manner that the thing is now different from what it was some few months back?

RRS: I think you are probably aware that on April 2nd the United States Government issued a new policy framework for how we will go forward after December 25th 2009. Basically, passengers from international flights will be subjected to the same kind of security enhancement in terms of search and questioning. And I think that the short and long of it is a worldwide policy and not country specific policy, not a nationality specific policy…

Presenter: In other words, Nigeria is not being targeted by the United States for punishment…

RRS: I think that is probably too strong of an analysis. Even if you look at the country of interest list, between December 25th and April 2nd, there was never a nationality designation but it’s a country of origin designation. I know people will be surprised to hear this that means I went through the same search and scrutiny, my staff did and I don’t think that part was appreciative that it was not a nationality designation. And I think that no country is immune from the footholds of international terrorism and Nigeria is not an exception to that and so we need to work together to address those issues. I think we are already doing that. We have had a lot of positive interactions since December 25th on how we worked together on global aviation security. The Secretary of Homeland Security was just here about a week and half ago, prior to that, co-deputy was also here. We signed the Air Marshal Agreement with Nigeria and we are working on a number of other strategic aviation security issues together so I think it’s an important way forward.

Presenter: The next text message is from Nwalama in Abia. He says, ”how is the United States tackling the global credit crunch crisis? How can you assist Nigeria come out of the woods?”

RRS: Well, I mean... I think that each country has to look at its background economy framework and make adjustments accordingly and we are doing that considering the United States in this environment. I also know that your new finance minister, your new Central Bank governor are also looking at your macroeconomic finance….your macro economic framework back here in Nigeria I think that that question is better placed with them but I would say that we have looked at some of the banking reforms that have been put in place, we think that they are definitely on the right path, the right direction, I think it’s a good signal for Nigeria that you’ve had these banking reforms. It shows that there is a commitment to reforms; it shows commitment to anti corruption efforts as well. So we see those things as very very positive. I know that when you look at the economic framework here, I was just looking at your first quarter 2010 numbers; you virtually had a very good first quarter, about 6% and ….

Presenter: 6% of growth?

RRS: Yeah. You inflation is not to bad and you still have quite a bit of reserves so you weathered the storm, everybody had the storm but I Nigeria weathered the storm better that many countries... I think your financial leadership in this country, your new Finance Minister and your Central Bank Governor are doing the right thing and planning the right vision for Nigeria on the macro-economic front.

Presenter: Very recently, it’s like yesterday, its fresh on our minds, the acting president, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan visited the United States. I understand that you were the moving spirit behind whole arrangement. What is really the essence or what was the essence? Oh yes, bilateral relations and you know friendship, but what… what is the underlying factor?

RRS: Really, any visit like that is connected to a lot of individuals not me. It’s really sort of the interest of the US Government at large and the acting President was invited to a landmark historic global forum led by the President of the United States. And part of that visit, he also had a private bilateral meeting with the President of the United States which I had the opportunity to be part of. And I would say though, overall, the acting President did something very similar to what good leaders do, he reached out to every sector in the United States. He had meetings across the board with a cross-section of individuals from the private sector, to civil society, to members of our US congress. He was a very very…

Presenter: (cuts in) Sorry to jump in, but does that meeting significantly improve the relations between Nigeria and the US?

RRS: I guess you would have to start with the premise that the relations were good before and I wouldn’t stop there at all. I think we’ve always had a good relationship. I will say that the acting President visit was really a landmark visit in a number of ways because of Nigeria, not because of us, you’ve had a couple of difficult months I think on the political front. I think that worldwide, I would include the US in that; there were concerns about where Nigeria was headed for a couple of months then. You had an ailing president who I respect immensely and who really hasn’t been seen, still haven’t been seen in public since November. You had a situation in which people were unsure of where Nigeria was going, and so I think it was an important event for Nigeria and we wanted to be on the receiving end of that visit because we care about Nigeria a lot. I think that the acting president did a tremendous job, he has his vision for the next couple of months, the next 12 months or so, between now and the election, I think that [people were relieved and pleased in so many ways because we have a tremendous interest about Nigeria in the United States. I remember at one of the business forum, it was a leading businessman who stood up who said, ”you know Mr. acting President, you’ve done more to really ease concerns about Nigeria in the last two days of your visit than…

Presenter: (cuts in): Okay madam, let me move from there to the fact that a lot of things seem to be happening in the States with President Obama. I hear that the International Summit on Entrepreneurship is coming on, is Nigeria invited? Any Nigerian attending this summit?

RRS: It is another initiative, signature initiative by President Obama and it s a global initiative and of course Nigeria is included in that. In fact there are three Nigerians that are participating, a young woman from Lagos state; I have actually been to her project mid-summer last year. And really it is to signal out that entrepreneurship in the first step to development in a democracy. And I think that the initiative that the president of the United States is doing is to highlight just how important entrepreneurship is in developing a democracy because that kind of talent also produces jobs for the rest of the society and I think he wanted to really hail that kind of effort and he want to single out very talented and creative people that are doing different things in the entrepreneurial sector. We are really proud to have three Nigerians as part of them.

Presenter: Madam, I don’t know if this will rub you up the wrong way but… you say Nigeria and America, they enjoy beautiful relations, Nigerians and Americans are friends. There are so many Nigerians who believe that they are qualified to visit, to study and [what] have you in the United States and had such a hard time. They don’t believe that that is justified. Are you… are you doing any serious work to review the whole process? As a matter of fact, sometimes, they say that the procedures that they are subjected to are kind of undignified.

RRS: Well you know I have heard that quite a bit and I take that... I do take that personally that I know that my team and I have worked very very hard to ensure that your people are treated honestly and fairly and with respect when they go through the visa processes. I think it’s also something that has to be cleared up in terms of the visa process. It is a worldwide process; no one is singling out Nigeria. It is a process that we follow in every single Embassy in the world and I also think there is a tendency to connect mot getting a visa to being treated unfairly and those are two separate things. There are strict immigration laws we have just like Nigeria has and I have a number of Americans too that come to me to complain about Nigeria…

Presenter: That when they want to come to Nigeria, they get a hard time…

RRS: Yeah, they get a hard time like even people that are on my staff that have their children or their spouse coming in, even people that are coming for training, they haven’t been able to get their visas and I just take that on board saying, this is the... these are the laws of Nigeria and if you don’t meet them, you don’t meet them. And so the same has to be viewed from our perspective as well. These are immigration laws and there is a threshold that has to be met in order to be qualified. So I think there s a definite distinction between people perceiving that they if they don’t get the visa, they’ve been mistreated. But I have taken a personal interest since I have been here to ensure that your people are treated fairly, treated with respect on the line and that is quite different then connecting it to I didn’t get a visa so I have been mistreated. That been said I know that probably won’t ring through with every Nigerian out there, they’re probably listening to me saying, oh my goodness, is she kidding me? But I will stake my personal reputation on that because I’ve got...

Presenter: (cuts in) You say things are going to get better… you are going to assure us, give us the assurance you are going to work on, not easing… yes as you said, if you don’t meet the requirements that’s one thing… but at least to be treated fairly and with dignity with a certain amount of respect, everybody deserves that, don’t we?

RRS: And I think we do that, I will disagree with the premise that we don’t do that. But I do think there is a view point that if you don’t get a visa then you haven’t been treated with dignity and respect and I think those two things are very very different.

Presenter: Olalude from Awe says, “the United States Embassy in Nigeria is not doing anything to promote sports.” Sports like basketball, rugby and American football. Why are you not showing interests in this area?

RRS: We do a lot in sports. We’ve had sports envoys here since I’ve been here we’ve had a number of Sports Envoys that have done Sports Programs throughout Nigeria. In fact, yesterday I was in Jos doing a number of things, but we had... we support a Basketball for Peace program actually in Jos. We had one also in Bayelsa and a few other States, so we do have as part of our core programs not only the Sports Envoys who come out to do basketball clinic. We don’t do rugby; rugby is not a US sport.

Presenter: American football?

RRS: American football, we have it, but we’ve mostly done soccer camps, we’ve done basketball camp and our Sports Envoys have really focused on those two areas. We do… Sports Programs is part of our sports development.

Presenter: Babatunde Osikelu from Ibadan says… “would like to know; will President Barrack Obama make a U-turn to visit Nigeria? Since the acting President has made the first move in the spirit of the new mutual understanding between the two countries?”

RRS: I can’t predict what the President of the United States is going to do but certainly I think that the fact that the two leaders have had a very very positive meeting last week, is an indication of just how important we think Nigeria is.

Presenter: Victoria from Benin says, “how can the United States of America help Nigeria with the energy crisis vis-a-vis constant power supply as a result of bilateral relations?”

RRS: I know we talked about that a bit earlier, as I said we’re doing… we have a number of public-private partnerships in the electricity area, gas flaring area, independent power project area; so we are quite active in being supportive of efforts by Nigeria to address its power issues and having this BNC focus on energy and investment will enhance that relationship and that partnership development program.

Presenter: Ikechukwu Ani from Enugu is saying that “there is so much hue and cry about AFRICOM, what is it about really? Does it have anything to do about setting up a military base in Nigeria or in Africa?”

RRS : No. AFRICOM is an entity within the US Government and that falls within the US department of defense and it provides assistance and support and training just like any other entity within the United States Government and its unfortunate that even three years down the line, there is still confusion on what AFRICOM does. I rely on AFRICOM to be responsive to request that I might give for instance, if I give request on humanitarian assistance, then AFRICOM is the entity in the United States Government that I will go to say, okay, I need training or capacity building or workshop/seminars on this particular area on humanitarian assistance or if I am travelling with my team and we are at a school or clinic that needs a borehole or waste incinerator, then AFRICOM is the entity that I say, okay can you send me the team that can help me do this? If we have been asked by the Nigerian military to be supportive in efforts in whether it’s peacekeeping, whether it’s in furthering their professional development that it would be very strong and very well respected, AFRICOM is where I go to go get their training.

Presenter: Madam, you know, we have spoken about a lot of seemingly serious issues. Let’s talk about entertainment, music and dance and America, particularly black Americans are very well known for that but we haven’t seen a lot of interaction since you have been here. Why is that so? Interaction between groups from over there and groups here, organizing teams from here, groups from here visiting the United States… to further collaborate and strengthen ties that exists between…

RRS: Why can’t I put you on our mailing list because you seem to be missing something. We just had a dance motion group people that did a number of programs.

Presenter: Oh really?

RRS: Yeah, maybe 3 , 4 weeks ago, maybe a little less , they did a number of, in fact they did a number of workshop at Terra Culture, they were at the National Theatre, they did at the Muson Center, you know.

Presenter: I am not on the same page.

RRS: No you are not on our page, we’ve had award winning artist here, we’ve done a number of cultural exchange programs in everything you can think of so make sure you get on our newsletter so that you‘ll know what we are doing.

Presenter: Etuk from Abuja says, “considering that the Nigerian housing isn’t right and 90% of Nigerians are poor and in the low income bracket. How is the United States handling the social housing scheme and how can you help us achieve that?”

RRS: We have something called a development credit authority, it’s a loan guarantee for housing only, that’s exactly what it’s for. And we have worked with a number of banks, I don’t remember but there six or seven banks that have the development credit authority loan guarantee. And it is strictly for low income housing, to help with low income housing so we are doing that as well.

Presenter: You have it in the books but what is the evidence that it really works and it helps people with social housing needs?

RRS: We don’t have it on our books, it’s a program the banks have and I have to relay go and look at the numbers but I know that it’s been used her in Lagos for we guarantee the mortgage or the long guarantee to get the mortgage so it is a facility that is available to Nigerians and I believe it’s a facility with six of the banks here.

Presenter: Monica Okwudili from Ibadan is saying, “what’s your take on Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat on the security council of the United Nations?”

RRS: That’s a global issue, I mean its more than just the United States but we do want to congratulate Nigeria for the fact that you will be on the UN Security Council in fact I think you will be chairing I think in July I believe is when you take the chair and so we see that as really positive step forward for Nigeria and a wonderful opportunity for Nigeria.

Presenter: Very quickly ma’am, the program is about to round up. You seem as a person, as the American Ambassador to Nigeria, in your personal slant, you seem to support advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations. Is that a total US posture or that comes from who you are?

RRS: Well certainly anything that I do here as a representative of the United States Government. So certainly, we take a tremendous interest in being supportive of civil society and I talked earlier about the pillars of democracy. So civil society is a key pillar in America too and then, we’ve brought extensively and I have even travelled with them too, on a number of civil society programs, because we really think they have a tremendous role to play in a democratic society.

Presenter: Madam Ambassador, thank you very much for coming on the program, we wish you the very best in all your endeavors.

RRS: thank you.

Presenter: Well viewers, that’s how much we can take today, my name is Bayo Adewusi. Thank you for your time and my guest has been Robin Renee Sanders, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria. Today has been nice, today has been fun, and tomorrow is another day.

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Nigeria: Cassava-to-Glucose Factory, National Day, Ailing President

On February 25, U.S. Mission Nigeria hosted its National Day in Abuja to a crowd of nearly 700 people, with the U.S. Navy Band playing and the wonderful Nigerian singer Age Bika. The crowd was wowed by their performances, and guest were treated to food from all across America. My speech focused on the uncertain political times in Nigeria with the return of the ailing President, a kind and thoughtful person. The USG wishes him well and counts on Nigerian leaders to do the utmost to stay on democracy's path. Key attendees were the Secretary of the Federal Government and the new Attorney General of the Republic. (see photo album)


On February 28, the Consulate General in Lagos did its National Day celebrations under the direction of the Consul General. I attended as well to greet and take photos with our wonderful company sponsors who always support our national day activities. There were about 750 guest at this event and the talented young men and women from the Lagos American International School played as fire works hovered over the water. My brief remarks here also focused on keeping Nigeria's democracy on the right path.

On February 22, Had pleasure today to sign a $162,000 USG Grant, along with the USAID Mission Director by which the USG will assist Nigeria Nigeria in one of its principal development goals of obtaining 10,000 megawatts of electricity by the end of 2011. The USG will work with Independent Power Producers Association on this key programs that will also include USG efforts on climate change to help identify renewable energy, reduce gas flarings -- important issues to reduce carbon foot print.

On February 21, The Formers Did A Great! Job: Bush and Rice at This Day Awards. Former President Bush and Former Secretary of State Rice showcased statesperson-ship when they discussed leadership, Nigeria's place in Africa and the world, noting Nigeria must move forward on its democracy. Highlight was a talk-around with Bush and former UK PM Blair moderated by former SecState Rice on the actions during their tenure, the importance of Africa, their love for the continent, and their legacies of development, debt relief, and combating AIDS. Rice gave frank talk at evening event to a gala crowd of 1000 on the impact of her history on who she is today, and her good wishes for Nigeria as it charts the way ahead. Having served as Ambassador to Republic of Congo under both, they included me in their meeting with the newly names Acting President of Nigeria. Key points sometimes circumstances make great leaders, rise to the occasion with transparent 2011 elections, fighting corruption, and good governance. (see photo in album)

On March 2, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with nearly 100 farmers involved in a cassava cooperative and a local factory that changes cassava to glucose. The USG provides technical assistance to the Ekha Agro Factory whose managing director is a dynamic young woman. This is the first factory of its kind in Nigeria, and the first in West Africa! With USG technical assistance, we have been able to help 1000 local farmers in 3 states -- Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos -- increasing their yields and their incomes. This project is both income-generating and helps build a sense of community and cooperation among the farmers, as they all work together on each other's crops in support of greater yields, which means more income. Farmers First!!

On March 3, I had another active day raising the profile of the USG in the agricultural sector. I spoke with a number of small and medium size entrepreneurs at the launching of the USG's Nigerian Expanded Export Promotion Project or NEEP which is through USAID and the West Africa Trade Hub. NEEP will train small business persons to identify their markets in the U.S. and in the West Africa region in order to export their products, and help them improve the quality of their products, particularly in shea butter and textiles. The goal is to have their products reach export-quality levels or increase their outputs. Nearly 100 small business persons attended the NEEP launch and were beneficiaries of the first training event. I learned there was a U.S. Shea Butter Institute in Atlanta - who knew! (see photo in album)

Successful Agriculture Event with BOI

June 9-10: Over the last two days I chaired along with the Nigerian Bank of Industry T(BOI) Managing Director a joint U.S. Mission-BOI agricultural event where six USG agencies provided their expertise to help the Nigerian agriculture sector develop by providing information on access to financing, offering technical assistance on agro-processing, food labeling, and how to scale up exports using AGOA. Six of the 14 Nigerian bank that are partners on either EXIM or the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) financing facilities also sponsored the practical two-day event where over 400 people attended. The financing and capital equipment segments were moderated by my staff assistant, Rob Anderson, while the interactive food labeling sessions were handled by a superb FAS consultant from Portland. The event received first class media coverage and I believe a good and productive time was had by all participants. We certainly moved U.S. policy forward over these last two days on agricultural development and AGOA.

Ambassador Sanders' Policy Speech at The American University of Nigeria

Policy Remarks

WHAT DEMOCRACIES DO FOR THEIR PEOPLE:
STRONG INSITUTIONS AND SMOOTH TRANSITIONS

Remarks of U.S. Ambassador Robin Renée Sanders
American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State
October 17, 2008

Remarks as prepared for delivery

All protocols duly observed

My remarks today are just one of many programs we are holding throughout Nigeria to celebrate democracy and explain how democracy is practiced in the United States. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you today on this excellent campus of the American University of Nigeria not only about democracy, but also the role that students like you play in a democracy.

Democracy is about the governed, not the government. It rests firmly on the principle that the people of a nation have the inalienable right to choose how best to govern themselves and through their government how best to invest in the nation's people, grow the nation's economy and ensure the nation's peace and security. It is from the people that governments derive their authority, and it is to the people that government is accountable.

In a few short weeks, on November 4th, the people of the United States will once again go to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to choose those they will entrust with the responsibility to represent the American people in their government. As Americans here at the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, the 2008 U.S. Elections are an opportunity for us to celebrate and share our traditions of democracy with our friends in Nigeria. For us and for the United States they also mark the beginning of a time of transitions, to new leadership and to new opportunities.

We are all looking forward to election night. This year, the U.S. Mission is hosting election night events in Abuja and Lagos featuring early U.S. election coverage, programs and information on the U.S. election process, and most importantly, the opportunity to share our democratic traditions with our friends in Nigeria. I am deeply encouraged by the interest of the Nigerians in the U.S. Election. And just as the transition from one U.S. administration to the next will take place over the next several months, so too will our commitment to support democracy and good governance through our partnership with the Nigerian people. Our support for just and democratic governance in Nigeria is one of the central pillars of our partnership with the people of Nigeria.

Our democratic institutions reflect the unique history and traditions of America, as reinterpreted and adapted through many transitions in government. In Nigeria too, democracy must be respectful of the traditions of the Nigerian people, while honoring and reflecting the will of the people through fair, transparent and orderly transitions from one elected government to the next. This is where you come in. It is the responsibility of Nigerians like you to define, ensure, and make your democracy in Nigeria a success. Your education here at the American University of Nigeria, a partner with the American University in Washington, plays a vital role in making you open-minded, but self-assured and strong enough to challenge the things you want to see changed. It will be voices like yours that ensure that corruption is fought at every turn, that you achieve transparent elections and an independent election commission.

What is also important as you learn who you are and what you want for your nation is to know what democracies should do for you: fair and transparent elections; a corruption-free environment; reliable health care and access to education. Your time at AUN will give you the tools to address all these things.

American democracy is firmly rooted in our tradition of representative government- government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" in the words of President Abraham Lincoln. Yet it took many elections and many transitions to ensure that women and African Americans were given an equal opportunity to choose their government.

This year, the Democratic and Republican parties have nominated the most diverse presidential tickets in our history- diversity in age, race and gender. Democrats and Republicans chose their candidates through a nominating process of primaries and caucuses that give the decision not to party bosses operating behind the scenes, but to ordinary citizens expressing their will through fair, open and transparent elections and caucuses.

Our national elections are a wonderful reminder that democracy works for the people. The 2008 U.S. Elections have generated tremendous voter interest, because voters know that the outcome will have a direct impact on the issues that matter most to them. What are the issues that concern voters this year? You may be surprised to know that they are not dissimilar from the issues that concern Nigerians.

Far and away, the top issue on voters' minds is the economy. In the United States and throughout the world, the past few weeks have seen tremendous turmoil in global financial markets. American voters are demanding that the candidates demonstrate that they have the vision and ideas needed to restore confidence in the markets and address the underlying weaknesses in our system that brought on this financial crisis.

Other domestic issues have also moved to the fore. Chief among these are access to affordable health care and the soaring costs of energy. Americans remain concerned about peace and security in the world. Questions about the proper direction for American foreign policy, the threat of international terrorism, and the role of America's military are also among the leading issues identified by Americans in this election.

These issues, as I have traveled around Nigeria, are what I have heard that Nigerians say are important to them. Remember, as Nigerians, and the future of this country, rest with you, you should keep in mind, that the fundamental strength of a democracy is the control it gives you as ordinary citizens to address issues through the power of the vote.

American's choice of their next president, their representatives and senators, and their state and local officials will determine the policies our next leaders will apply to these global and domestic issues. As these new leaders know, as do countless politicians before them, that their performance will be measured by the voters and the power of their vote in future elections.

These political transitions are part of the fabric of democracy in America. Transitions bring change. No doubt, you are wondering what our political transition will mean for Nigeria. While it is not for me to predict the policies of our next administration, I am confident that the framework of partnership between the American people and the people of Nigeria will remain. Nigeria is a leader in the region; the United States and the international community want you to do well. We recognize you face important challenges: instilling the principles of good governance and anti-corruption efforts at all levels of government; implementing electoral and institutional reforms to address the flaws of past elections and ensure the integrity of future elections; developing the human capital and physical infrastructure needed to meet your economic and social goals, ensuring peace and security throughout Nigeria and continuing as a leading contributor to peacekeeping operations throughout the region. Know that through our framework for partnership, whatever the results of the U.S. elections, we will continue to work with you to address these challenges.

For example, just for education alone, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria through our U.S. Agency for International Development activities are increasing numeracy and literacy skills of primary students, improving access to education services, increasing the quality of teaching, and fostering community participation in the educational process. In our five-year COMPASS program, a $25 million budget is supporting Interactive Radio Instruction, teacher training and instructional materials development, and grants to parent-teacher associations to improve the quality of educational services. We are working closely with government ministries, parastatals, the National Assembly, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholder groups through the ENHANSE program to strengthen and support the policy environment necessary for successful social sector programs in Nigeria. Through the Ambassador’s Girls’ Scholarship Program, we are providing about 1,200 scholarships and mentoring to girls and boys in all regions of Nigeria. We provide in-service training to more than 20,000 primary school teachers to improve their teaching skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Our programs also increase girls' primary school enrollment, retention, attendance and completion, especially in the North. Our Youth Exchange and Study program allows secondary students to attend school in the U.S. for one year while living with American families.

We will also work with you to strengthen your institutions of democracy and just government. Since the 2007 elections, Nigerians have signaled a new commitment to the rule of law and respect for the independence of the National Assembly and the courts. Judges and legislators have responded to this by demonstrating unprecedented independence. Electoral tribunals which had, in the past, merely rubber-stamped flawed elections, many- not all- are now overturning at least some of the most egregious polls.

As a friend and partner, the U.S. Government is working with Nigerians to strengthen all these positive trends: developing institutional capacity within the National Assembly, providing technical assistance to improve accountability and transparency in all three branches of Nigeria's federal government, as well as with state and local governments. This includes technical assistance to the Electoral Reform Commission to support its efforts to identify best practices in electoral reform, while also supporting the work of state legislators from Nigeria's 36 states to develop their input to the electoral reform process.

On a democracy's responsibility on health care: we are helping Nigeria through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, which combines comprehensive prevention, care and treatment programs to support the Nigerian Government's response to the HIV epidemic. Last year alone, the U.S. Government's PEPFAR program provided $447 million dollars to Nigeria on HIV/AIDS programs, including support to clinics.

On a democracy's economic responsibility to its people: we are partnering with Nigeria to encourage a more open trading system, including signing a bilateral investment treaty; facilitating investment in micro and small enterprises; and partnering to bring U.S. advisors to assist in natural gas development and with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. We also encourage Nigerian businesses to take greater advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA.

Our agricultural programs support a wide range of crop development programs, such as the Cassava Enterprise Development Program, which partners with the private sector to promote the production, processing and marketing of cassava products using improved technologies, and the Development Credit Authority loan portfolio facility, which provides partial loan guarantees for agricultural financing for framers.

Democracies also provide peace and security for their people, so we stand ready to support Nigeria’s work to ensure peace and security in the country and throughout the region, such as through the African Union. We commend your government’s position on Zimbabwe calling for the voice of the Zimbabwean people to be heard freely and fairly, and your leadership on the African Union Peace and Security Committee. We work closely with your military on capacity building to provide training and equipment to your peacekeeping forces, and aid in technical assistance to the Nigerian Police Force to build the capacity of police training for students and instructors, including training to investigate allegations against police. We are providing financial forensics and criminal investigation programs to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other financial crimes institutions. U.S.-funded full-body scanners and other detection equipment are helping to stop narcotics trafficking through Nigeria’s international airports, and on human trafficking we work closely with your National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to prevent this horrible act. On the Niger Delta we have just begun work with some states on youth development needs, education, and vocational training, and have offered to do more if requested by the Nigerian government.

All of these areas: education, health services, a corruption-free environment, peace and security, are the things you as the future of Nigeria must expect from your democracy. We are with you, as you can see from the range of our policy programs, in your road toward a fuller democracy. Thus, our partnership with you is based on mutual friendship and a common desire to see Nigeria, as well as each and every one of you, achieve the full potential that is your future. I have talked a lot about what democracies can and should do for you, and also what your role is. As we celebrate the upcoming U.S. Elections we want you with us to share in one of the key democratic pillars- a dynamic, exciting and transparent election. We want this for America and we know Nigerians want this for Nigeria.

Thank You.

Ambassador Sanders' Remarks at Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture

Remarks of U.S. Ambassador Robin Reneé Sanders

Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture

Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
Lagos, April 23, 2008

All Protocols Duly Observed.

It is an honor for me to join you today for the inaugural Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture series. I understand that the Foundation's work is dedicated to promoting literacy and social change, and to investing in the development of human capacity in Nigeria. These are noble goals indeed. Achieving them is essential to the development of Nigeria. I welcome the opportunity to explore with you possible solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria and to share with you examples of how we are working in partnership with the Nigerian government, and business and civic leaders -- such as yourselves -- to promote a stable…prosperous… and democratic…Nigeria.

Poverty is perhaps…the greatest challenge facing Nigeria… today. The statistics are sobering. The impact on people’s lives is even more so. The 2003/2004 Nigeria Living Standards Survey (NLSS) conducted by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics -- with international technical assistance –documented…a national poverty rate of 54.4%. More than half of Nigerians…live on less than $1 per day. Subjectively, 75.5% of Nigerians regard themselves as poor, with most of those in the agricultural and informal sectors…particularly at the village levels.

So with that backdrop, we all recognize the starting point for poverty here in Nigeria, but what are we doing and what can we do to address this issue? To begin with, “investing in people” is the centerpiece…the pillar…of the United States’ partnership with Nigeria to alleviate poverty. We implement our programs in full support of…and in coordination with…either federal, state, or local governments, as well as civil society, NGOs and academics. We also applaud President Yar’Adua’s 7-point agenda, which…prioritizes wealth creation in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors, and raises the importance of food security, land reform, and education as poverty-fighting measures. I have organized the U.S. Mission’s strategic program goals and objectives to support this agenda under the “U.S. – Nigerian Framework for Partnership.”

We know that agricultural development, improved education, income generation, empowerment of women and health care are the foundations of any nation that must be nurtured…and cared for. They have not been for a long time in Nigeria. That is why our programs throughout Nigeria…support sustainable agricultural development and food security as critical factors in poverty alleviation.

In fact, in April 2008, President Bush announced $200 million to address the recent food security issues in Africa. Let me also share a few additional examples of not only what we are doing but also creative solutions by Nigerians that I have witnessed firsthand. For example, the U.S. Mission through the U.S. Agency for International Development is increasing cassava yields and agricultural incomes for 300,000 farm households in 11 South East and South South states, creating 60,000 new jobs in cassava processing, manufacturing and trading. Our Foreign Agricultural Service is funding community health, microfinance and rural infrastructure projects in Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna and Nassarawa States. Additionally we are active in bore hole and school rehabilitation projects through our office of Defense Cooperation. Public Diplomacy efforts are too focused on poverty reduction through its education, IT training centers, American Corners and exchange programs.

In addition, we have reached an additional 500,000 farm households in the north, middle belt and southern areas to increase productivity and income generation for selected domestic export products – such as marine and freshwater aquaculture and dairy production. We have also worked on sustainable tree crop development with cocoa and cashew.

In our work with the private sector under the umbrella of public-private partnerships (known as PPP’s), we have established partial loan guarantee programs with commercial banks to provide more than $30 million in credit to small and medium size enterprises and agribusinesses so that increased agriculture yields reach markets efficiently -- benefiting both farmers and consumers. And in the spirit of PPP’s, we have worked with companies like Microsoft with educationally focused NGOs like LEAP Africa and with Nigeria’s dynamic banking sector with leading entities like Bank PHB and Skye Bank on an export credit program.

Supporting education…is also critical to alleviating poverty. There are…thirty million primary school children in Nigeria…yet as many as half of these…do not attend primary school. An enormous number of out-of-school children and young adults…possess limited literacy and numeracy skills…and have little hope…of ever joining the formal workforce. Creative-thinking in programs like President Yar’Adua’s village solutions project called COP under his National Anti-Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP) are also using synergistic approaches to addressing poverty – linking agricultural, education, income – generation and micro finance on one platform, which is truly transforming at changing people’s lives.

Let’s look a bit more specifically…at education. Regional gender disparities in school attendance and literacy deficiencies are enormous. In the North West…the proportion of girls who attend primary school stands at 34 percent, compared with 85 percent in the South West. Adult women in the North West only have…a 20 percent literacy rate. We have all heard the same words over the years in different forms but in essence they all mean the same thing…that to educate a girl or woman is to help educate a village…a community…a nation, and for Nigeria this is no less important.

Under our African Education Initiative, the U.S. Mission here is making a difference by increasing literacy and numeracy skills for 700,000 primary school children in three states and training 15,000 primary school teachers in classroom instructional methods. We will launch a new basic education initiative in four northern states beginning in late 2008 that will reach approximately one million pupils and 9,000 teachers in 1,500 schools.

As I have traveled around Nigeria, I have seen wonderful programs by Nigerians on education in states like Bauchi, Kano, Cross Rivers, Delta and Rivers states. For example, Bauchi State supports a training center that teaches entrepreneurial and IT skills as well as a secondary school exchange programs with Iowa State University. Delta State has begun to reach out to communities to conduct job skills training for youth as well.

As we all know, access to health care is another critical factor in alleviating poverty, and the United States is investing heavily in the development of Nigeria's health care sector. Our programs…for example…are building the skills of 15,000 health care workers, preventing malaria…treating tuberculosis…administering life-saving childhood immunizations…and providing family planning and reproductive health counseling.

Focusing now on HIV/AIDS…Nigeria has the third-largest number of people…living with HIV/AIDS…in the world, with an estimated 4.4 %...of the Nigerian population living with the virus. To address this critical human health need, Nigeria is one of 15 focus countries under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (known as “PEPFAR”). During PEPFAR's first four years, Nigeria has received nearly $650 million dollars to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and training throughout the country with a focus on orphans and vulnerable children, and home-based care. More than 80% of patients on antiretroviral drugs in Nigeria are supported by the U.S. Government under its PEPFAR program.

Looking at issues…from education…to health care…to agricultural development…, Nigeria's human development needs…are daunting. U.S. development and Nigerian programs are helping to address these needs, but more importantly efforts are focused on providing practical…proven programs that can be replicated throughout Nigeria by the Nigerian government and in tandem with other international donors and civil society. The role and importance of civil society groups with capacity and training in all of these issues – health, education, and agricultural development – cannot be stressed enough.

These programs do not exist and cannot operate in a vacuum, as there must be standards of governance prevailing throughout Nigeria for poverty alleviation programs to thrive. Good governance…democratic institutions…and respect for the rule of law provide the enabling environment in which Nigeria can better use our assistance as well as the assistance of others through the creative solutions I have highlighted. It goes without saying that...promoting just and democratic governance…in Nigeria…is a core pillar of the United States government’s partnership with Nigeria.

We all recognize the flaws in the 2007 election process, however, since then President Yar'Adua has pledged a new commitment to the rule of law…a new commitment to respect the independence of the National Assembly and the courts…and a renewed commitment to anti-corruption efforts. Some judges and legislators have responded by demonstrating unprecedented independence. Electoral tribunals which had, in the past, merely rubber-stamped rigged elections, are now overturning some of the most egregiously flawed election results. Anti-corruption institutions are now challenging the culture of impunity by investigating powerful political figures in all sectors. Now even more remains to be done on all of these fronts.

Corruption, especially systemic corruption, is among the most powerful forces undermining good governance and poverty alleviation in Nigeria as it siphons financial resources, and creates barriers to investment, commercial activity, economic growth and most importantly, to development.

The impact of corruption touches each and every Nigerian, and robs each and every Nigerian everyday of a better future. A recent World Bank Institute Report (Dec 2006, released in 2007 on corruption in Nigeria) noted that…an improvement in institutional quality from current levels to those found in other places like Chile, for example, would translate into a seven-fold increase in per capita income in Nigeria over the long run. According to the World Bank, one standard deviation increase in corruption lowers investment rates by three percentage points, and the average annual growth of a country by one percentage point.

There is reason to hope that the climate of corruption is changing. The Government of Nigeria has made considerable strides in the fight against corruption. We are working with key institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ICPC, the Civil Service Federation and others in order to partner with the government, National Assembly, and civil society in their anti-corruption efforts. For example, we are funding financial crime advisors to help improve the operations of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, providing equipment to NDLEA – Nigeria’s Drug Agency, and have plans underway to enhance the professionalism and strengthen the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) through basic police recruitment programs, training of academy instructors and training of senior management in the NPF.

The political space opened up by President Yar'Adua has allowed us to provide comprehensive skills training to recently-elected members of the Nigerian National Assembly, its committees, and staff. In addition we will support Nigeria’s efforts on election reform, including pushing for a truly independent electoral commission – because the one in place now is not living up to that need. The Niger Delta needs special note as the problems and development challenges there - coupled with criminality - presents additional rungs in the poverty ladder. We are working with numerous civil society groups funding projects on agriculture, income generation, job skills and IT in the region.

This backdrop has clearly shown the relationship among poverty…governance, and corruption. But…it has also noted…where innovative solutions of government, the U.S. Government, civil society and the people of Nigeria are linked up to address these issues. I have a friend who always says that “poverty is a state of being, not a state of mind.” And these examples of innovation underscore this point as villages, communities, government, and active partners like the U.S. seek to improve the roadmap of Nigeria’s future.

Policy can make strides in the right direction. Nigerians know what must be done to craft a new roadmap of direction for the country… but it will not be easy…nor painless. It will require…demonstrated, sustained…committed support to the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. It will require all – the government, businesses, civic leaders, but more importantly…the people of Nigeria…to stand up firm…for these issues, …to stand up firm against corruption whenever, and wherever it raises its ugly head. Be it fighting corruption or disease…or supporting democracy…and good governance…the United States is a steadfast friend, steadfast partner, and a steadfast ally of the Nigerian people in the fight against poverty here in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Thank you.