In a virtual ceremony celebrating the inauguration of a solar-powered cold storage facility in Enugu, U.S. Consul General in Lagos, Will Stevens, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the project’s success.
Implemented by Manamuz Electric, a company led by Mandela Washington Fellow Uzo Mbamalu, the facility represents a testament to the impact of U.S. government exchange programs in Nigeria. Mbamalu’s six-week exchange experience at the University of Nevada-Reno facilitated connections that enabled the realization of this initiative, with ongoing support from the university’s college of business and a grant from the U.S. Africa Development Foundation.
Stevens expressed gratitude to the project’s public and private sector stakeholders, including the Enugu State Marketing Company, Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo, and smallholder farmers, emphasizing the facility’s role in addressing Nigeria’s significant post-harvest waste challenge, which amounts to nearly $9 billion annually.
Highlighting the importance of infrastructure in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, Stevens underscored the U.S. government’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria to promote food security and agricultural-led economic development. He cited the recent launch of the U.S. government’s Global Food Security Strategy Country Plan for Nigeria and USAID’s substantial investments in agriculture over the past five years.
Stevens emphasized the need for a stable, transparent, and business-friendly regulatory and investment climate to capitalize on opportunities for economic growth. He reaffirmed the U.S.’s readiness to support Nigeria in strengthening institutions and regulatory frameworks to enhance its attractiveness as a destination for global investment.
In closing, Stevens applauded Uzo Mbamalu and his partners for their initiative and expressed optimism about the potential for Nigerian startups and businesses to expand globally through collaboration with the United States.
