United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet President Muhammadu Buhari and the foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama on Tuesday in his first virtual trip to Africa since US President Joe Biden came into office.
In a statement on Monday, Blinken’s spokesman Ned Price said the secretary would also virtually visit Kenya.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.
“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 (Geoffrey Onyeama) to reiterate the value of our bilateral relationship and discuss issues of shared importance.”
The statement further said Blinken would also participate in a health partnership event to underscore the United States’ collaboration to combat the pandemic as well as long-term US investments in combating infectious diseases.
“He will meet with a beneficiary of a PEPFAR program and a Nigerian health care worker,” the statement added.
