US Embassy Counselor to deliver lecture on Citizen Driven Development at CU

Covenant University will be hosting key officers of the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the United States Embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday, November 21, 2007. The visit, which will be the third of its kind in three years, will feature a special lecture presentation and discussion of issues of mutual interest between the Public Affairs Section and the University.

The leader of the team and Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Dr Atim Eneida George will deliver the special lecture, titled, ‘Citizen Driven Development’ at the University Chapel by 12 noon.

Dr Atim, a Senior Foreign Service Officer has over 20 years of experience in international affairs. Her professional interests include the public policy implications of poverty, eradication, environmental justice and gender equity.

She is a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar and successfully completed the Aspen Institute’s International Career Advancement Programme.

Dr Atim has received the Department’s Superior Honour Awards for her professional contributions in Nigeria and Mexico. She was honoured with a Chieftaincy title, Yeye Araba, by the Ooni of Ife in May 2006 and that same year received an honorary doctorate in Diplomacy and Peace Initiatives from Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun, Nigeria.

She was also recently given the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) Value Award in appreciation of her support and love for the empowerment of women folks in Nigeria, especially for improving the quality of lives in our communities. The award was bestowed on her on Novemeber 2, 2007 during the celebration of the 1st anniversary of a 3-year partnership with the MTN Foundation.

Meanwhile, it is worthy to note that the previous visits of the Public Affairs Section to Covenant University coincided with the International Higher Education Week while this year’s is just a day to the US Thanksgiving Day, celebrated annually every third Thursday in November. The University has benefited from US Government sponsored educational and cultural exchange programmes, especially the Fulbright Fellowship and Study of US Institutes (SUSI). Two Covenant University faculty recently benefited from SUSI grants and the University candidates also stood out during the interview of Fulbright Junior Scholars conducted recently.