NIDO-Americas cont.

After the Atlanta and London conferences, President Obasanjo set up an Ad Hoc Committee.  This committee is made up of relevant ministers, the Secretary to the Federal Government, the High Commissioner to the U. K., the Permanent Representative in the United Nations, some members of the Nigerian Investment Promotions Council (NIPC), the Consul General in Atlanta, and the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States.   This committee, Prof. Aminu said, has met with President Obasanjo twice and has since made many recommendations to the Government.  They noted, particularly, that there are many types of activities which NIDO as a non - governmental organization (NGO) cannot undertake and which only government can.  These include political, consular and legal issues affecting Nigerians; all of which are the exclusive preserve of government. 

Prof. Aminu reported that the Ad Hoc committee has since been approved by the Secretary to the Federal Government to set up NIDO-AMERICA based in Washington, D. C. and NIDO-EUROPE based in London.  The Federal Government also approved the name NIDO and its status as an NGO.  In addition, the Nigerian Federal Government invited each NIDO to indicate what kind of assistance it would like to receive from the Federal Government.

The terms of reference for NIDO are:

a).  "To promote the spirit of patriotism among Nigerians and to encourage their participation in the affairs of their country;

b).  To encourage networking among Nigerians based on pressing economic, political, social and cultural issues;

 c).  To enhance the image of Nigeria with a view to promoting business, trade and investment opportunities;

d).  To build up, a database of Nigerians with skills and make it available for the benefit of the Government, the private sector and Nigeria's development partners;

 e).  To serve as technical advisers, partners, catalysts with respect to development policies, organization and implementation of programs in Nigeria;

f).  Other matters deemed necessary by the NGO." 

He continued, "the organization will be a non - profit making professional practice company and will be expected to pursue its own development and be speedily self-financing.  It is to pursue the nut and bolt aspects of harnessing for our national good, and for its own success story, the enormous Diaspora opportunities out there waiting to be seized.  The NGO is being established in Abuja, Washington and London.  Government will provide it with adequate moral and material assistance at its takeoff stage, but would thereafter allow it to run on its own without interference from Government.  The NGO will after becoming a reality here in Washington and in London proceed to establish linkages with the NGO in Abuja and Diaspora office in the Presidency." 

Finally, Prof. Aminu summarized his remarks with the following key points:

a).  The NGO is made of arms, which shall compete with, as well as complement each other.

b).  There shall be established a Diaspora office in the Presidency to be the contact point of the NGO with Government and, more importantly, to undertake, together with the missions abroad, those Diaspora activities which are the exclusive preserve of Government.

c).  Government will midwife the Organization, and support it, but, has no interest in controlling it for any length of time.  Government will give support to the NGO in its early stages but it should become independent as soon as possible and operate without interference from Government. 

Professor Aminu charged the Washington conference to

a).  Discuss and agree on both the immediate and the long-term structure of the NGO.  The initial leadership is to prepare the definitive structure, Article of Association, development plan, and so on, all to be completed within three months.

b).  Identify a small number of the key persons, widely distributed in the Americas, who will form the initial nucleus, the interim Board of Trustees and a Director of the new Organization.  These individuals will work with the Nigerian missions concerned to establish NIDO America, with its headquarters in Washington, D. C.

c).  Determine the composition of the interim Board, which must reflect a healthy diversity as to gender, professions, geographical factors and others.

d).  The Interim Board of Trustees and the Director, is to prepare the budget and sourcing for funds and other support from Government and elsewhere as well as collecting donations and subscriptions from Nigerians in America for safe keeping by the Embassy in Washington, D.C.

e).  Work with the Embassy in the United States in physically setting up the initial offices in Washington including registration of the new organization.

f).  Agree on the modalities of social mobilization in order to bring as many Nigerians in the Americans into the Organization as soon as possible.

g).  Deliberate and agree on any other issues that will help in the rapid takeoff of the new Organization and thereby harvest the rich Diaspora opportunities in America for the benefit of our beloved country and people.

After Prof. Aminu’s opening speech, the conference went into a business session.  There, after a lengthy debate on the charge, as well as the review of a document titled: "Brief For Nigerians In The Diaspora", prepared by the group that was empanelled after the Atlanta conference, the following actions were taken:

a).  The name of the organization was changed to NIDO-AMERICAS to reflect the inclusion of membership from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

b).  The organization was divided into regional groups: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Midwest, Plain States, West Central, Atlantic Seaboard, Canada, and Southeast. 

c).  An interim Board of Trustees was established.  This Board is composed of the core group established at the Atlanta conference, appropriate staff at the Consulate General in Atlanta, and a representative from each of the regional groups mentioned above.  Attendees at the conference divided into their respective regional groups and elected one representative each to the interim Board.

 d).  The interim Board of Trustees was then charged with doing all necessary preparatory work for the formal establishment of NIDO-AMERICAS between now and Fall 2001.

The next conference of NIDO-AMERICAS was set for Fall 2001 (probably in October), in Washington, D.C