THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The German chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has elected a new executive council. The body’s Annual General Meeting, which took place on Saturday (13 May) in Frankfurt, elected Kenneth Chukwudi Alaekwe as President, Dr RosaLyn Dressman (Vice President) and Prof Dr Brando Okolo (General Secretary).
Other new members of the council are Dr Augustine Okeke (Assistant General Secretary), Mr Kazeem Ojoye (Financial Secretary), Mrs Mary Bruder (Treasurer), Hajia Saratu Leko-Peters (Public Relation Officer) and Dr Chinedu Uzonwanne (Project Secretary).
In his keynote speech, Mr Alaekwe, said NIDO Germany was growing from to strength, describing it as the “biggest and most important chapter” of the organisation in Europe. To buttress his claim, he referred to the election in November, last year in Athens, Greece, of the former President of NIDO Germany, Kenneth Gbandi, to the NIDO Europe Chair as well as its former Financial Secretary to the position of the Financial Secretary of NIDO Europe.
“In the history of NIDO Europe, there was no time these two key positions were held by two persons from the same Chapter,” Alaekwe added.
The NIDO Germany leader praised Gbandi for his contributions to the growth of the chapter. “Ken, your tireless and unselfish efforts contributed to elevating us to that position in Europe,” Alaekwe, who was the Vice President in the Gbandi-led exco of the chapter, added.
He explained that the Nigerian government recognised NIDO as the official platform through which individual Nigerians based in the Diaspora could contribute to the development of the country.
“In this sense, the organisation partners with both public and private businesses in focused areas such as Foreign Direct Investment, professional networking, stakeholder advocacy and skills transfer to Nigeria,” he explained.
Alaekwe pointed out a main focus of NIDO Germany in the past four years had been on investment and trade. “We have been able to organise some successful events on investment and trade, which have resulted to some small investments in Nigeria,” he said. “Investments and trade will remain our main focus, but we need to move to some other areas where we could contribute to the development of the country.”
The new NIDO Germany chief announced at the event that the organisation had gone into co-operation with a reputable global charity organisation called Pro-Health International to facilitate possible activities the body could undertake in Nigeria. “In fact we have signed an MOU with Pro Health and I hope that the new Executive will carry on from there,” he revealed.
The gathering was graced by the presence of Mr Chimezie Okeoma Ogu, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Berlin, Mr Dayo O. Falowo, Consul General at the Nigerian Consulate in Frankfurt, and several staff members of both the Embassy and Consulate. Other dignitaries present at event were Mr Kenneth Gbandi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, NIDO Europe, and members of the organisation from other chapters.
Sola Jolaoso
About NIDOE
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) is the European arm of a global Nigerian Diaspora network. Established in 2000, the organisation’s headquarters is in London from where it serves its 19 Regional Chapters in 18 European Countries.
NIDOE provides an umbrella to all Nigerians in Europe. Together with the other continental arms of NIDO in the Americas, Asia and Africa, the organisation is the largest assembly of Nigerians worldwide.
The Government of Nigeria recognizes the organisation as an official platform through which individual Nigerian Diaspora, their Community Organizations, and Corporate Bodies can channel their developmental efforts to Nigeria.
More about NIDO Germany at: www.nidogermany.de
