Embassy Newscentre

Embassy News 2008

Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt and the Deputy Public Affairs Officer Etta Toure at the Re-Opening ceremony (photo: Yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

Information Resource Center Re-opens

After a month-long closing for its annual inventory, the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the US Embassy reopened its doors to the public on September 03, 2008.  Over 100 people, including representatives from the Ministries of National Education and Culture, other high ranking government officials, the World Bank, writers, NGO leaders, teachers, students, writers, publishers and media attended the opening ceremony.

In her welcoming remarks, Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt said "the purpose of the IRC is to share knowledge and reinforce mutual understanding between Ivorian and American people.”  She also reiterated the United States government's commitment of support to the people of Cote d’Ivoire. 

Following the Ambassador's remarks, the IRC Director, Marie Laure Angoran introduced the attendees to the IRC's newest acquisitions, services and upcoming programs in a power point presentation.  With a captive audience of writers and publishers, the IRC director seized the opportunity to talk about the 2008 Children’s Africana Book Award Winners.  This year's winners include Ivorian writer, Marguerite Abouet for her book "Aya," a graphic novel about teenage life in Yopougon, a suburb of Abidjan.   The Children’s Africana Book Award was established in 1991 by the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s materials on Africa in U.S. schools and libraries.

At the end of the ceremony, over 50 people completed forms for IRC membership and IRC distribution lists. The event was covered by local media.