US Ambassador Visits AUN, Promotes Democracy
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Hon. Robin Sanders, paid an historic visit to the American University of Nigeria on October 17, 2008.
The ambassador spoke during an hour-long ceremony at the student cafeteria where over 600 guests gathered to hear her remarks on the importance of the electoral process and the power of the vote, two features of democracy that have gained wide respect in the run-up to the US Presidential elections that took place on November 4, 2008.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Sanders expressed pleasure for the visit not only as a result of the university's American affiliation but also because, as she observed, the university and its students represent the future of Nigeria.
"I really think the most important people in Nigeria are you and your faculty members," she said. "You are the future of your country. And those of you who are Nigerian are certainly the future of Nigeria."
In her speech, the US Ambassador highlighted the need for the students and other members of the university community to take active part in strengthening democratic structures. "My remarks today are just one of the many we are holding throughout Nigeria to celebrate democracy," she said, "I welcome the opportunity to speak to you today on this excellent campus of the American University of Nigeria not only about democracy but also about roles that students like you play in a democracy."
She noted that the upcoming election was the first of its kind in the history of the United States. Quoting Abraham Lincoln, a former US President, she defined democracy as a government of the people by the people and for the people, and then reminded the audience that it however "took many many elections and many many transitions to ensure that women and African Americans were given an equal opportunity to choose their government."
"This year the Democratic and the Republican parties have nominated the most diverse Presidential tickets in the history of our nation: diversity in age, diversity in race, diversity in gender," she also noted.
She also told the audience that democracy is less about the government than the voter. "Democracy is about the governed, not the government. It rests firmly on the principle that the people of a nation have the right to chose how best to govern themselves, and it is from the people that governments derive their authority and it is also the people that hold government accountable," she said.
The Ambassador also shared the story of her own voting record: "When I was eighteen, my mother took me to vote for the first time and I have made sure I vote in every US election since then." Though her time at AUN was short, the ambassador expressed admiration for the growth of the university and its ability to provide the tools to improve the country. "It will be voices like yours that ensure that corruption is fought and that in turn you achieve transparent elections. Your time at AUN will give you the tools to address all these needs," she told her attentive audience.
After her speech the Ambassador entertained questions from the floor. The question and answer session was followed by brief remarks by the President of the Student Government Association (SGA), Mr. Soji Abolarin, and closing remarks by the AUN President, Dr. Michael. The even climaxed with the exchange of gift plagues by the visiting envoy and the AUN President. Among the dignitaries who witnessed the event was Prof. Yusuf A. Ribadu, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Yola (FUTY).
An entourage of eight representatives of the US mission in Nigeria, which arrived ahead of the ambassador, was led on a tour of the AUN campus by the AUN President, Dr. Michael Smith, Dr. Samuel Aleyideino, a distinguished educationist and member of the university's Board of Trustees, Prof. Bayo Lawal, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and Prof. Muhammadou Kah, the Dean of the School of Information Technology and Communication. During the tour the entourage expressed deep admiration for the remarkable progress the university has made in the few years of its existence.
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