A Student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Osun State, has emerged as the overall winner of the United States’ video talent competition, Made in America, Loved in Nigeria.
The competition, organised by the United States Mission in Nigeria, seeks to promote American made products while strengthening trade, industry and investment ties between Nigeria and the United States. Out of 57 entries submitted nationwide, five finalists were shortlisted for the grand prize awards.
Raheedat Fagbenle, from Lagos State, clinched the top prize. Tito Abumere, also from Lagos State, finished second, while Janefrancis Ugwu from Abuja came third. Cyril Usheshe from Cross River State placed fourth, and Timileyin Durotoye from Osun State emerged fifth.
Speaking at the awards ceremony held on Wednesday in Abuja, the US Embassy Country Public Diplomacy Counsellor, Lee McManis, described the competition as a celebration of the long standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, anchored on commerce, mutual respect and a shared commitment to progress.
McManis said the initiative transcends the promotion of American products, noting that it plays a strategic role in advancing trade, investment and broader business engagement between both countries.
He recalled that in 2023, the US Department of Commerce and Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment signed a five year Commercial and Investment Partnership agreement focused on agriculture, the digital economy and infrastructure.
Nigeria is one of only five African countries with such an agreement, underscoring the importance we attach to our economic relationship, he said.
McManis added that more than 100 major American companies currently operate in Nigeria across critical sectors, including manufacturing, energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and technology, alongside numerous small and medium sized enterprises.
These companies are driving innovation, creating opportunities and transforming lives on both sides of the Atlantic, he noted.
Commending the winners, McManis said their entries demonstrated how American products and technologies empower Nigerian creativity while supporting businesses and communities across the country.
Your stories not only highlight the quality and impact of American made goods, but also the strong connections linking our two nations through trade, creativity and the pursuit of opportunity. Commerce between the United States and Nigeria is about more than goods; it is about people, entrepreneurs, students, families and communities working together for a brighter future, he said.
