Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

President Olusegun Obasanjo Ends 3-Day Visit to U.S.A.

President Olusegun Obasanjo ended a three-day visit to Washington, D.C., United States of America on Saturday, May 12, 2001.

The visit at the invitation of President George W. Bush was the first by any African Head of State since the inception of the new administration and provided the Nigerian President the opportunity to exchange views with President Bush and top officials of the administration.

President Obasanjo during the visit met with African ambassadors posted to Washington, leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, President of the World Bank, Mr. James Wolfensohn and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Horst Kohler as well as members of the American business sector.

The highlight of the visit was the Rose Garden Ceremony at which President George Bush in the company of President Obasanjo, United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan and other top officials of his administration flagged off the Internal Monetary Fund on Aids with the Announcement of a Two Hundred Million dollar ($200 million) United States contribution.

The ceremony signaled the commencement of a global and concerted effort to tackle the aids scourge and a recognition of President Obasanjo's effort to improve living standards on the African continent.

President Obasanjo was hosted to a colorful military parade at the Pentagon, a rare honour usually reserved for important visiting dignataries.

Before leaving the United States, President Obasanjo hosted a dinner for the Nigerian community in the country where he briefed them on developments back at home and was also the Special Guest at the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) dinner held in his honour.

Below are pictures of important events during the visit:

Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Professor Jibril
Aminu with his American counterpart Howard Jeter await
the arrival of President Obasanjo at Andrew Air Force Base.
President Obasanjo plays with little Zainab Sada Soile after
being presented with a bouquet of flowers on arrival.

The Nigerian Head of State was treated to a rare military
parade at the Pentagon.
President Obasanjo being introduced to the interim
executives of Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO America)

President Bush with President Obasanjo announcing
American contribution to the International Fund on Aids at
the Rose Garden, White House.
The almost completed new Chancery of the Embassy of
Nigeria, Washington was inspected by the President during
the visit.

President Obasanjo being interviewed by a group of
journalists during the visit.

Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation
Professor Jerry Gana answering questions on Voice
of America live phone-in programme during the visit.