By YANGE IKYAA
The United States has provided $122 million to build capacity and support healthcare in Sokoto State since 2015. Mary Beth Leonard, who is the US ambassador to Nigeria stated this during her visit to Sokoto at the weekend.
From May 18 to 20, Leonard and a delegation from the US mission met government leaders, private sector and civil society representatives in Sokoto and Kebbi States to discuss bilateral relations between the United States and Nigeria.
During the visit, the two parties exchanged views on key issues such as security, education, health, economic development, the COVID-19 response, and also reviewed US assistance activities in the two states.
In a press briefing at the American Corner in Sokoto, Ambassador Leonard noted the United States provided $122 million to build capacity and support healthcare in Sokoto since 2015. She also met with partners from the USAID-supported Nana Khadijat Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC) to better understand the needs of survivors of gender-based violence, especially during the COVID-19 era.
SARC delivers free medical, legal, and psychosocial services to survivors of violence.
Ambassador Leonard also visited Yahaya Abdulkarim Model Primary School, Wamakko, where she observed a reading lesson using “Mu Karanta!” (Let’s Read!) materials and techniques provided by the USAID Northern Education Initiative (NEI) Plus. The initiative is an American-backed activity that was piloted in Sokoto and now includes an additional five states.
She lauded the state’s commitment to early grade reading by meeting its financial commitment to NEI Plus, and in so doing, the example Sokoto has set for other states to follow suit. Over the last five years, NEI Plus also provided nine million schoolbooks, trained 9,500 teachers, and improved reading skills for nearly a million pupils.
“It was wonderful to get a close-up look at U.S. government programs in action and see their impact firsthand,” the Ambassador said at the end of the trip. “I hope to visit again soon.”
With Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Ambassador Leonard acknowledged the difficulties faced by Sokoto regarding regional insecurity and encouraged a focus on improving economic opportunity that will help improve citizens’ lives.
“Insecurity is a difficult problem, but I don’t think it’s an insurmountable one,” Ambassador Leonard told local press later. “We encourage all citizens to contribute positively to prosperity and security of this country.”
The Ambassador also visited Bishop Matthew Kukah, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, where she discussed interfaith efforts in the state, and discussed ways to build community and encourage youth civic engagement. During her stay, the Ambassador met several US government exchange alumni, and highlighted the impact they are making in Sokoto.
In Kebbi, the Ambassador discussed agriculture with Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who acknowledged the valuable support from the US Feed the Future initiative, which has helped improve access to agricultural support services for women farmers.
In Argungu, Governor Bagudu joined the Ambassador to launch a new partnership with WACOT Rice, a leading Nigerian producer, at the firm’s rice processing factory. A $1.48 million grant through the USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub leveraged an $8.6 million WACOT investment to bring 5,000 additional farmers – half of them women—into its outgrower expansion project, which will modernize production enough to double rice yields and support business growth in Kebbi and promote economic development.
Outgrowers are farmers under contract to cultivate, harvest and supply their produce to a specific processing firm.
