African Studies Center Hosts Delegation of International Visitors Leadership Program Members
The African Studies Center hosted a delegation of nine International Visitors Leadership Program members from eight African Countries on March 20, 2024.
The program, organized by the Department of State brings emerging leaders from around the world to the U.S. for focused study trips. The delegation included members from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda. This program focused on “Entrepreneurship as the Engine of Prosperity and Stability” with a special emphasis on small business development. Assistant Professor of Global Economic Policy Solomon Osuwu, Professor of the Practice of Global Development Policy Tsitsi Musasike and ASC Director Mark Storella briefed the group and engaged in lively conversation on African economic issues. A highlight was the group’s visit to the African Studies Library where ASL Head Beth Restrick introduced the group to what is among one of the largest Africana libraries in the U.S. One visitor actually found reference to her aunt in the Historical Dictionary of the Central Africa Republic. It was clear she was thrilled by the discovery and it really personalized the visit for her.
The African Studies Center (ASC) at Boston University is one of the nation’s oldest leaders in promoting African language and area studies since its founding in 1953, with federal funding from the US Department of Education as a Title VI National Resource Center.