Toluse Francis has revealed that the United States government trained some prominent Nigerians under the United States exchange programme to impact and develop Nigeria with the knowledge and skills acquired from the programme.
Francis, a social leader and communications strategist, stated that these Nigerians are united under the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association of Nigeria (USGEAAN) and that their mandate to develop the country is sacrosanct, which is why the association deserves better treatment, influence, and visibility than it currently boasts.
Francis recently said this in Lagos while campaigning to become the public relations secretary of USGEAAN.
USGEAAN is a coalition of Nigerian professionals, leaders, and changemakers who have participated in United States government-funded exchange programmes, including the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowship, Mandela Washington Fellowship (YALI), TechWomen/TechMen, among others.
According to Francis, USGEAAN, which boasts about 22 exchange programmes, is designed to deepen mutual understanding between the US and partner nations through knowledge exchange and leadership development.
Speaking on the relationship between the US and USGEAAN, he said that he alumni body is overseen and administered by the US Consulate in Lagos and the US Embassy in Abuja.
He said that across Nigeria, USGEAAN alumni lead impactful programmes in governance, education, health, media, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and security. According to him, some of these programmes include Know Your Rights, Civic Leadership Bootcamps, Economic Empowerment Initiatives, Gender-Based Violence Advocacy, and Mental Health Dialogues, which have marked the association’s transformative presence.
Furthermore, speaking about how the association impacts Nigeria, he said it is about mentorship, community, and service, adding, “The alumni body, through its numerous programmes, showcases what its members have learned in the course of their training, and this serves as a source of inspiration that you do not need to know anyone to succeed. Instead, keep doing what you are doing.”
He listed notable USGEAAN’s alumni to include Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos State (Humphrey Fellow), Okey Ndibe, author and journalist (IVLP), Justice Opeyemi Oke, former Chief Judge of Lagos State (Humphrey Fellow), Dr Joe Abah, former Director-General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (IVLP), Dr Mairo Mandara, former Country Representative, Gates Foundation (Fulbright), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (IVLP), Professor Olayinka Abosede, public health expert (Humphrey Fellow), Temie Giwa-Tubosun, healthtech entrepreneur and founder of LifeBank (IVLP).
Others included Dr Jude Ememe, economist and former MD/CEO of ACB International Bank Plc (Boston University fellow), Adebola Williams, co-founder of RED for Africa (YALI), Bassey Udo (IVLP), Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, chair, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (IVLP), Adebowale I. Adefuye, former Nigerian Ambassador to the US (Fulbright Scholar), Mahfouz A. Adedimeji, professor of linguistics (Fulbright)
Yetunde Abosede Zaid (Fulbright), Sipasi Olalekan Ayodele (YALI), Amanda Obidike, co-founder of STEMi Makers of Africa (YALI), Ayoola Stephen Efunko (YALI), among others.
Francis participated in the US exchange programme through YALI in 2018 and has been an active member of USGEAAN and USGEAA Lagos since then, serving as the association’s Assistant General Secretary (2020–2022) and later General Secretary (2022–2024).
“Our stories must be told. Not quietly or passively, but with boldness, clarity, and pride,” he said.
