U.S. deputy treasury secretary Adeyemo to visit Nigeria for economic ties

Mr Adeyemo will meet with Nigerian government officials and technology, entertainment and financial sector representatives.

Tosin Ajuwon • September 15, 2023

Adewale Adeyemo[Credit: Empowerment Network]

Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, the United States deputy treasury secretary, is expected to visit Nigeria next week as part of President Joe Biden’s administration’s commitment to deepening the country with Africa’s economic, trade and cultural relationships.

Mr Adeyemo, the highest Nigerian-American official in Mr Biden’s administration, will meet with Nigerian government officials and representatives from technology, entertainment and financial sectors during his visit to Lagos State from Sunday to Tuesday.

On Friday, a statement by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria said Mr Adeyemo would discuss the opportunities available through programmes like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has provided eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, during his visit.

Mr Adeyemo’s trip to Nigeria would be the first visit to his country since becoming the highest-ranking member of the African diaspora in Mr Biden’s administration.

“It’s one of those opportunities to go to a place that means a lot for me personally but also to go to a place that means a lot for me professionally, just given that Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy with a huge demographic boom,” he told the New York Times.

“It’s just a great chance for me to talk about how we can deepen the economic relationship and the strategic relationship at a moment when Nigeria has a government that’s already taken really important steps in terms of economic reform,” he added.

In 2015, former U.S. President Barack Obama appointed the Nigerian-born as the deputy national security adviser for International economics.

Then, Mr Obama had said the Nigerian-born American had helped the U.S. combat the global economic recession which started in 2008.

In the meantime, Mr Adeyemo’s visit is coming less than a year after President Biden-led administration announced redoubled engagement with the continent during the U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit.

Mr Biden’s administration has repeatedly expressed interest in strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.

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