US Secretary Of State Blinken To Meet With Buhari Over Security, Economy

The United State’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari over the level of insecurity in the Giant of Africa.
Recall that Nigerian noble laureate and Professor, Wole Soyinka, over the weekend that the Government needs to seek help and stop playing games with the lives of humans.The meeting which will hold virtually is said to be part of Blinken’s first virtual trip to Africa, which begins on Tuesday 27th April. This was revealed in a statement from the US State Department today Monday. He is scheduled to visit Kenya and Nigeria while engaging with young people from across the continent.
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According to the statement, Blinken’s meeting with Buhari will underscore the US and Nigeria’s shared goals of strengthening democratic governance, building lasting security, promoting economic ties and diversification. While he will also meet with Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama to reiterate the value of the bilateral relationship and discuss issues of shared importance,  Blinken’s visit also includes a health partnership event where Blinken is expected to meet with a Nigerian health care worker.“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will embark tomorrow, April 27, on his first virtual trip to Africa, where he will visit Kenya and Nigeria and engage with young people from across the continent. Secretary Blinken will begin his virtual travel to Africa meeting with Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) alumni. In a “Ten Questions with Tony” event, YALI alumni will have an opportunity to engage with the Secretary on a range of topics, including the role of youth in the future of Africa, economic development, democracy and good governance, climate change, and health. Through YALI, the United States works with public, private sector, and civil society partners across the continent to develop initiatives and economic opportunities to support the creativity, innovativeness, and energy of Africa’s youth”, the statement began.
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“Secretary Blinken will then travel virtually to Nigeria, where he will underscore our shared goals of strengthening democratic governance, building lasting security, and promoting economic ties and diversification.  People-to-people connections, underpinned by the dynamic Nigerian diaspora in the United States, amplify and strengthen our relationship.  During his visit, Secretary Blinken will meet with President Buhari and Foreign Minister Onyeama to reiterate the value of our bilateral relationship and discuss issues of shared importance. Secretary Blinken will also participate in a health partnership event to underscore our collaboration to combat the pandemic as well as long-term U.S. investments in combatting infectious diseases”, it added.
“He will meet with a beneficiary of a PEPFAR program and a Nigerian health care worker. The Secretary’s virtual trip to Kenya will celebrate our 57-year bilateral relationship. Secretary Blinken will meet with President Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary Omamo to reaffirm our strategic partnership, discuss future cooperation to promote democracy and expand trade, and explore avenues to address global challenges, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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“The Secretary will also visit Kenyan-based renewable energy companies that, thanks in part to U.S. government engagement, are a model of innovative clean energy alternatives in Africa.  Finally, as part of our solidarity with Kenya amid the global pandemic, we will highlight a U.S.-donated Mobile Field Hospital to which the United States is providing essential COVID-19 medical supplies through AFRICOM and the Massachusetts National Guard’s State Partnership Program”, the statement said.TRENDING VIDEO OF THE DAY: I Can’t Imagine Myself In That Situation – Crossdresser James Brown
Photos Credit: Getty