In recognition of the roles Nigerian entrepreneurs are playing in job creation, and securing and impacting their immediate operational bases, Chairman/CEO of Stanel Group, Mr. Stanley Uzochukwu, was among Nigerian entrepreneurs’ delegation that welcomed an eight-member congressional delegation from the United States that visited Nigeria earlier in the week.
Also listed among the Nigerian delegation were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Executive Chairman of Dangote Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Executive Chairman of Heirs Holding, Alhaji Indimi Muhammadu, Executive Chairman of Orientals Energy Resources, at the US Consulate General’s resident in Lagos.
The US delegation was led by Senator Christopher Coons (D-Delaware), a member of the Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics committees.
The delegation also included Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan); Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado); Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware); Representative Terri Sewell (D-Alabama); Representative Charlie Dent (D-Pennsylvania); Representative Barbara Lee (D-California); and Representative Frederica Wilson (D-Florida).
The congressional delegation, in its West Africa tour, is visiting Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, in addition to Nigeria.
While in Abuja, the US legislators met with a group of high-ranking leaders to gain a fulsome picture of the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the US, while they were briefed by Ambassador W. Stuart Symington and the embassy staff before meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and other members of the National Assembly. They also met with the Nigerian business community, religious and civil society leaders.
Among the issues of particular interest to the US officials were the fight against Boko Haram and the humanitarian situation in the northeast of Nigeria.
They were also in Lagos, where trade and investment relation formed the theme. In the country’s financial capital, they met with Nigerian business executives, toured the Egbin Thermal Power Plant, participated in an American Business Council roundtable and concluded with a reception featuring alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative.