Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, the new United States Ambassador to Nigeria has pledged to leverage US diplomacy, foreign assistance, and the private sector to partner with Nigeria to expand economic growth, increase security, and counter corruption.
Leonard made the pledge during her confirmations hearing on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting her credentials to President Muhammadu Buhari at a ceremony in the Presidential Villa.
The Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Abuja made this known in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the US Senate confirmed Leonard on Aug. 1, after she was nominated for the position by US President, Donald Trump on June 24.
It stated that she was sworn in as the Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on October 4, in Washington, DC.
The statement quoted Leonard saying, “I would look to harness US tools, from existing ones like the African Growth and Opportunity Act and our hard-working Foreign Commercial and Agriculture Service Officers.
“To newer ones like Prosper Africa and the Development Finance Cooperation’s increased budget for insurance, loans and loan guarantees, and equity investments.
“To promote our mutual prosperity,” it stated.
Speaking on Nigerian youth and the potential they hold, Leonard said that “as Americans, Nigerians are hard-working, inventive, and entrepreneurial.
“Nigeria’s youth are fueling exceptional endeavours in areas from information technology to agriculture.
“Offering the promise of the opportunities the country will need to meet the challenge of its youthful demographics”.
Source: NAN
