The United States (US) Mission to Nigeria has awarded $404,553 in grants in response to applications to its 2017 annual programme statement.
A statement issued by the Public Affair Division of the US Embassy in Abuja, made available to BusinessDay on Thursday, said a total of 23 projects were funded, which it said will address issues of concern to all Nigerian citizens.
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The grantees included civil society organizations, arts companies, and alumni of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Programme. Grantees will execute projects to promote women’s entrepreneurship and economic development; increase disabled and non-disabled students’ access to primary and secondary education; mitigate farmer-herder conflict; and support anti-corruption efforts, the statement said.
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To ensure effective management of the funds, a one- day workshop was organized on November 13 to mentor the 23 grantee organizations on best practices in project management. During the workshop, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington addressed the organization’s representatives, emphasizing their partnership with the US Embassy.
He underscored the key role the grantees could play in “solidifying Nigeria’s democratic gains, creating economic opportunity, and ensuring a united Nigeria,” the statement said.
The US has been consistent in providing grants to Nigerians at different levels over the years as many individuals and organisations have benefitted from the programme through a competitive process.
According to the statement, the 2018 open competition for the grants will soon start as applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline of July 31, 2018.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
