VZCZCXRO8191
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0060/01 0451340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141340Z FEB 08
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9751
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 9483
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK 
ENERGY FOR PERSON, GAY 
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA 
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR KSAMPLE 
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS 
STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER 
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER 
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI SENV CASC NI PHUM
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CG'S ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS ENUGU'S 
EDUCATIONAL SUCCESSES 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified;  Handle Accordingly. 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Consul General Donna Blair visited Enugu, 
which claims the highest percentage of American citizen 
residents of any state in Nigeria.  The American Corner in 
Enugu has done educational outreach for more than 1,000 
students.  Calvary Foundation, recipient of Democracy, Human 
Rights and Labor (DHRL) grants, provides a range of 
educational and health services.  Community violence 
prevented a visit to a project funded by the Ambassador's 
Special Self Help Fund.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) A young state created in 1991 from the old Anambra, 
the capital city of Enugu was the capital of the former 
Eastern Region.  The state claims the largest coal deposit in 
Nigeria. The highest percentage of American citizen residents 
as well as the highest number of state residents spending 
time in the United States are found here.  Governor Sullivan 
Chime's election had been overturned several days before the 
Consul General's visit; there was little evidence of the 
populace's views on the matter. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
U.S. Educational Outreach Helps Thousands 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Consul General delivered two computers to the 
Shalom Academy and to the American Corner in Enugu as part of 
the Mission's Adopt-a-School program.  While at the American 
Corner, she also spoke to approximately 70 members of civil 
society about the contributions made by Martin Luther King, 
Jr. to American society.  The Enugu State Government oversees 
the day-to-day running of the center where the American 
Corner is located, and is an active partner to the Mission's 
educational and outreach efforts in the state.  Over the past 
year, Educational Advisor Margaret Anyigbo has spoken to more 
than one thousand students about studying in the United 
States; she works closely with the Enugu State Education 
Department in her efforts. 
 
¶4. (U) Consul General Blair also met with Vice Chancellor 
Chinedu Nebo of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and 
several principal officers of the University.  The university 
today boasts an enrollment of over 20,000 students, Nebo told 
the CG, and has added eight new lecture halls with six more 
planned.  Nebo warmly thanked the United States for its 
support, and said the majority of the principal officers and 
lecturers at the university were alumni of U.S. colleges. 
This is reflective of Enugu State, which proportionally sends 
more of its citizens to study in the United States than most 
other Nigerian states.  After the official reception, Consul 
General Blair addressed 800 students and faculty to 
commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Students recited 
the "I Have a Dream" speech for the CG. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Calvary Foundation Continues Excellent Work 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Ugo, both physicians, hosted 
Consul General Blair at their residence, and thanked her for 
supporting the Calvary Foundation through DHRL.  DHRL and 
other grants have helped Calvary provide local high school 
students with civic education, built administrative buildings 
for the Calvary Foundation Vocational College, and helped 
Calvary begin a day care center, nursery school and primary 
school for disadvantaged children, and a human rights 
institute that provides human rights training for youth. 
Touring the Calvary Foundation School and the Calvary Bee 
Keeping Project, the CG learned that more than ten state 
governments have shown interest in the bee keeping venture. 
The project encourages local honey and beeswax production 
 
LAGOS 00000060  002 OF 002 
 
 
using modern beekeeping techniques, Mrs. Ugo told the CG. 
The Ugos are also the Directors of the Nigerian branch of the 
International First Aid Society. 
 
¶6. (U) In discussing their work and residence, the Ugos 
shared that, rather than wait for the city, state or federal 
government to provide an adequate road in their neighborhood, 
they had spent personal funds to upgrade and repave the road. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Violence Aborts Planned Trip to Self Help Project 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶7. (U) A planned visit to an Ambassador's Special Self Help 
Fund (SSH) project in Oruku Town Nkanu East had to be aborted 
due to violence in the community.  Oruku Town had used the 
grant to build a three classroom addition at the 
Comprehensive Secondary School for N3.7 million (or $28,900 
at exchange rates in 2004 and 2005, when the grants were 
awarded).  The CG was told that that such low-level tension 
is common; after several people are killed, the community 
elders step in and calm the situation. Often several months 
elapse before the next flare-up. 
 
------------------------------- 
The American Community in Enugu 
------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) During a town hall with approximately 30 members of 
the American community, and consular wardens, the CG learned 
of issues confronting the population here.  As in most other 
sites visited, great interest in a U.S. Consulate in the 
eastern part of the country was expressed.  The community is 
concerned about communication, which is hindered by very poor 
infrastructure. She was also received at the home of 
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnus Mrs. 
Gozie Udemezue, along with thirty members of the local 
community including lawyers and other professionals.  Many of 
the attendees were long-term residents, including one who 
moved to the area in 1952. The group expressed strong 
interest in having more frequent consular visits to the area. 
 
¶9. (U) (Note: A large number of U.S. citizens live in Enugu; 
many families have a relative working, studying or living in 
the United States.  A large number of Nigerian doctors in the 
U.S. come from Enugu State.  The state government during the 
First Republic and after the Biafran War granted thousands of 
scholarships to Enugu residents to study in the United 
States. End Note.) 
 
10.(U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja. 
BLAIR