A former U.S. Ambassador who has worked extensively in Africa spoke at Gannon University Wednesday night.

Robin Renee Sanders is the former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and the Republic of Congo. 

She spoke to college students about the importance of the relationship between the United States and Africa.

Ambassador Sanders applauded Gannon's effort to build global leaders.

She noted that people tend to generalize Africa as one entity, instead of recognizing it as many countries.

 "For some reason for Africa, people tend to lump all these 54 countries in the same basket, which I think is a negative," said Ambassador Sanders. "They're individual countries with individual relationships with us, with individual potential to have a different relationship with us politically and economically."