Will Stevens, the U.S. charge d’affaires in Nigeria, has commended Nigerians living in the United States for their impact on America’s economy and sports.

Mr Stevens gave the commendation in an interview on the sidelines of the National Football League (NFL) Africa Camp in Lagos on Tuesday.

The NFL, the biggest sport in the U.S., has opened a scouting programme tagged ‘Africa Camp’, ongoing at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island.

The scouting programme aims to discover young Nigerian talents interested in pursuing a career in the NFL as a sport.

The programme has top NFL players from the U.S. and other countries assembled in Nigeria to encourage young Nigerians to join the world’s highest-grossing sport.

Mr Stevens, however, said that many NFL players of Nigerian descent were doing well in the sport, hence the need to get more and give them the opportunity.

“Nigerians are impactful in the U.S. We have over 750,000 Nigerian Americans, many of whom are the most educated and have high-income receiving members than any diaspora group in the U.S. The ties between the diaspora and the U.S., in the economy, will build more economic and cultural relationships that thrive between both countries- the U.S. and Nigeria.

“One of the good things is that the NFL is targeting Africa for talents. We have done this in Ghana, South Africa and now, Nigeria. There are over 140 NFL players of African descent, either they are born in Africa or their parents are Africans,” he said.

Mr Stevens also stated that the U.S. consulate in Nigeria was happy to be part of the talent discovery in Nigeria, which would have great benefits, including scholarships to study at the best American universities.

According to Mr Stevens, in addition to the economic benefits for the NPL Players, they can also receive scholarships to study at U.S. universities.

The African Camp, taking place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, is open to potential athletes. It involves Nigerians and other Africans being taught the rudiments of the NFL.

Some of the drilling includes the broad jump, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, and three cones. The instructors include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Bobby Okereke and Prince Tega Wanogho, who are of Nigerian descent.

(NAN)