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9/15/2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo to Travel to Nigeria | U.S. Department of the Treas…

MEDIA ADVISORY: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally
Adeyemo to Travel to Nigeria
September 15, 2023

WASHINGTON – Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo will travel to Lagos, Nigeria
September 17 – 19, 2023, as part of the Biden Administrationʼs commitment to deepening the
U.S.-Africa economic and trade relationship. His visit aims to build on the already deep peopleto-people ties between the United States and Nigeria, a strong and historic partner. In his
engagements, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo, the highest-ranking Nigerian-American o icial in
the Biden Administration, will highlight the economic and cultural ties between the two
countries and will discuss how we can deepen our partnership to the benefit of both
countries, by further developing business and investment in Nigeria with a particular focus on
entrepreneurship, youth development, and womenʼs empowerment.
This trip follows Secretary Yellenʼs travel to Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa in January,
which was the first extended visit by a Treasury Secretary to sub-Saharan Africa since the
Obama Administration. And it comes a er President Biden and the Administration announced
redoubled engagement with the continent during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit last year.
As Africaʼs largest population, democracy, and economy, Nigeria is an important and strategic
partner on the continent. The Deputy Secretary will focus on how it is Nigeriaʼs people – its
most valuable resource – who will shape and drive Nigeriaʼs economic prospects. Leveraging
the vast Nigerian diaspora around the world, including in the United States where NigerianAmericans have built successful businesses and prospered, can be a key part of that process.
On his trip, the Deputy Secretary will connect with entrepreneurs, creators, and others in the
business community to gain their perspectives on how the United States can partner more
e ectively to realize the shared vision of a stronger Nigeria. He will discuss the opportunities
available through programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has
provided eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, with duty-free access to the
U.S. market for thousands of products. He will also share the many tools available through the
U.S. government to promote investment in Nigeria, especially in the form of high-quality

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9/15/2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo to Travel to Nigeria | U.S. Department of the Treas…

infrastructure that meets Nigeriansʼ needs, through initiatives like the Partnership for Global
Infrastructure Investment (PGI). These include:
Power Africa, which has supported electricity generation projects for 3,000 MW of new
capacity in Nigeria;
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation, which has a portfolio in Nigeria that includes
everything from major power projects to microfinance to local health clinics;
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which has provided support for feasibility
studies in Nigeria for sectors ranging from healthcare to internet access to clean energy;
Prosper Africa, which has facilitated 129 deals worth $1.4 billion, including sectors as
diverse as beekeeping and healthcare technology; and
The PGI, which can provide values-driven and high standard infrastructure investment in
countries like Nigeria.
Additionally, the United States has also been a leader in pushing for the evolution of
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and their ability to act with su icient speed and scale
to address the worldʼs many challenges -- and, just as importantly, help catalyze private
investment that addresses global development needs.
As Secretary Yellen said: “We believe that Africa will shape the future of the global economy.
Africaʼs demographic boom can create massive economic opportunity. And its talents and
resources can grow global industries and drive global innovation. In other words, Africaʼs
success will mean success for all of us. And the United States is here as a partner to help
Africa realize its massive economic potential at home and advance its growing leadership
abroad.”

T RIP DETAILS
On Monday, September 18, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo will deliver major remarks on the
U.S. – Nigeria economic relationship at the Lagos Business School. Media interested in
receiving local event details should RSVP to LagosPressUSM@state.gov.
While in Lagos, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo will also host a banking and financial sector
roundtable with key financial institutions to hear their views on the business and
investment climate, as well as how the private sector is dealing with illicit finance risks.
He will meet with U.S. companies with a large presence in Nigeria to hear about the
challenges faced by foreign firms, including those posed by corruption, and how to further
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo to Travel to Nigeria | U.S. Department of the Treas…

build U.S. trade and investment ties.
He will tour the Vibranium Valley technology incubator in Lagos, where he will meet with
entrepreneurs and startup founders, including those in the fintech and healthtech spaces.
The Deputy Secretary will also tour Ogidi Studios, a recording studio that works with top
Nigerian musical artists and has partnered with major U.S. entertainment companies,
including working on part of the soundtrack for the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Deputy Secretary Adeyemo will visit ReelFruit, a woman-owned agribusiness company
that has received $2 million in USAID funding to construct a new factory and install new
equipment, which will allow the company to meet growing domestic and international
demand.
A er visiting Lagos, the Deputy Secretary will travel to New York to meet with senior
Nigerian government o icials on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Further
details about that stop will be available in the coming days.
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