USAID Gets New Mission Director, Haykin

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) has a new Mission Director for Nigeria, Mr. Stephen M. Haykin.

Haykin who was sworn in last Friday in a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy by Ambassador W. Stuart Symington will oversee all aspects of USAID/Nigeria’s development program, valued at nearly $500 million annually, in agriculture, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, power, and health, as well as USAID’s humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Symington said: “The people of Nigeria will immeasurably benefit from Steve’s vast experience in leadership and management of USAID development activities.

“He is championing the Mission at a critical time for Nigeria and for the United States.”

A statement by the embassy in Abuja said Haykin has served for about 30 years as a USAID Foreign Service Officer, and has experience in international economics, general development, and delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Before his new posting, he had served as Mission Director in Georgia, where he managed activities in economic growth, democracy building, health, energy, and social development.

He has also served as Mission Director in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Madagascar.

The statement said Mr. Haykin has a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and master’s degree in economics and Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In 2002, he was awarded the Distinguished Honor Award by USAID.