The Oji River Local Government Council in Enugu State, on Thursday, affirmed its readiness to deepen diplomatic ties across various sectors with the United States (US) Consulate in Lagos.
Chairman of Oji River Local Government Council, Greg Anyaegbudike, said this at the council headquarters in Oji River while receiving a delegation from the US Consulate in Lagos. led by Julie McKay, Public Affairs Officer with the US Consulate General in Lagos.
Anyaegbudike said that it was the first time US Consulate visited any local government area in Nigeria, adding that the visit reflected recognition of his administration to make great impacts and open opportunities in the council area.
According to him, the US Consulate has continued to support individuals and governments in Nigeria to boost youth development, creativity, human resource development and to ensure general well-being of communities.
“What has happened was US Consulate coming to identify with the government of Oji River and to ensure that their own alumnus of the United States Exchange Programme (International Visitor Leadership Program Alumnus) is doing well.
“The visit is to forge areas of partnership moving forward. I am an alumnus of the United States Exchange Programme. My wife is also an alumni of the United States Exchange Programme.
“We used the opportunity to launch a 5-year Oji River ICT Master Plan.
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“We also launched Oji River Website, which is ojiriverlga.en.gov.ng. It is through this website that we showcase Oji River to the world,” he said.
The chairman said that the visit came with a lot of potentials for Oji River as American companies that want to invest in Oji River would now be looking out for investment opportunities in Oji River.
Anyaegbudike noted that the council and the US Consulate discussed trade, commerce, industry and partnership for businesses in Oji River.
“The Oji River Investment Promotion Agency (ORIPA) borne out of the Oji River Economic and Development Summit that took place in April 2025, made a presentation before the delegation on the movement so far.
“ORIPA revealed that the agency had planned to bring $10 million investment every year for the next 10 years in Oji River. ORIPA has been engaging different organisations, including US Consulate to see to the investment in Oji River.
“The beauty and potential of this visit can never be overemphasised. There are so many openings for information and communication technology, trade, business and commerce for Oji River.
“There are so many openings for partnership both technically and culturally for Oji River. There so many openings for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Oji River,” he said.
Responding, the delegation led by Julie P. McKay, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General Lagos, explained that there would be more US exchange programmes.
Mckay, who is also the Cultural Affairs Officer at the consulate, said that the consulate looked forward for Oji River indigenes to take part in the exchange programmes.
