The U.S consulate on Saturday launched the America Corner in Lagos, to serve as a multi-functional space for Nigerian youths to develop their ideas and explore their creativity and entrepreneurship skills.

The new America Corner is located at the former Concord Newspaper premises, Airport Road Ikeja, Lagos State. 

The Corner will be open to Lagosians from Monday to Friday for free.

Speaking at the ceremony, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the opening of America Corner in Lagos is an exchange of culture between Nigeria and the U.S.

The ambassador praised the partnership with Venture Garden Group, which hosts the new American Corner.

She noted that the America Corner is a unique space that provides free learning for young Lagosians.

“A significant aspect of U.S. foreign policy, and a cornerstone of my leadership of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, is investing in people,” Ms Leonard said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The new American Corner Ikeja will function as a centre where young people develop their ideas, as well as their leadership and entrepreneurship skills through programs and workshops. 

“Lagos is a city of industry, entrepreneurship, and learning. It is great that the American Corner will help bring the people of Nigeria and the United States closer,” she added. 

The special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on SDGs, Solape Hammond, said the state is developing Africa’s largest technology and entrepreneurship space for young people to enjoy.

Mrs Hammond represented Mr Sanwo-Olu at the event.

“The American Corner Ikeja will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Lagos State Government particularly in broad areas of promoting education and technology learning,” she added.

Bunmi Akinyemiju, co-founder of Venture Garden Group, said the America Corner would empower young Nigerians and elevate their entrepreneurial spirit.

“The American Corner Ikeja directly advances one of our commitments to add value to Nigeria’s efforts to develop and support an educational system that will unlock the expertise, innovative spirit, and entrepreneurial capacity of young Nigerians,” Mr Akinyemiju said.

Also, another co-founder, Kunmi Demuren, said the U.S. Consulate’s partnership with the tech group has been mutually beneficial.   

“We are delighted that this new American Corner will offer even more opportunities to young people to discover the U.S. as they prepare for their futures,” Mr Demuren said.  

The American Corner Ikeja is a tech environment designed to promote digital skills among youths and provide a well-equipped workshop space for learning. 

The Corner offers conversation clubs, discussion groups, virtual programs, film screenings on various topics, and STEM learning activities such as robotics and drone technology. 

The American spaces are homes to over 9,000 U.S. government alumni who aim to give back to their local communities through programmes at the Corners.