Media Launch: African Union and NAFEO Endorse HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative to Create One-Stop Clearinghouse between HBCUs and African Institutions.
For Immediate Release (June 7th, 2019)
ATLANTA, GA (June 7th, 2019) On June 10th, African Diaspora Nation launches a one-stop clearing house to expand educational and economic opportunity exchange between Africa and Black America.
The media launch for the initiative will take place on June 10th from 1pm-3pm at the African Union Mission, 1640 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC.
The media launch program line-up includes opening remarks by Her Excellency Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, African Union Ambassador to the United States and official remarks from Dr. Ronald Johnson, a member of the United States President’s Advisory Board on HBCUs. Mr. Johnson also serves as Chairman of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and is immediate past president of Clark Atlanta University.
African educational institutions are represented at the media launch program by Mr. Kojo Yankah, Chancellor of the African University College for Communication in Ghana.
Attorney Lezli Baskerville, President & CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), America’s only membership and advocacy association for all of the Nation’s 106 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 50 Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), representing 700,000 students, 72,000 faculty, 7 million alumni and their communities, will bring remarks on behalf of the richly diverse Black college community.
According to Attorney Baskerville “NAFEO is honored to partner with the HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative to continue and accelerate the long and inseverable alliance between Africans on the Continent, African-ancestored people in America, our families, institutions, enterprises, media, and our Spirits, anchored in our Souls. NAFEO joins this alliance as we do all of our alliances, in the spirit of Ubuntu, an Nguni Bantu word describing the interconnectedness and interdependence of humankind; the fact the we are One and that, no one of us can be all that we want to be unless we are all as we should be. The word captures the bond between all people in humanity.”
“NAFEO is especially humbled to participate in the HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative activities that will begin in Ghana, because America’s HBCUs enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He was a 1939 graduate of Lincoln University, America’ first degree-granting HBCU. His teachings, his philosophy and the trails he blazed are ever present on the campus of Lincoln University and throughout America. I hope that Lincoln’s SisTAR President, Dr. Brenda Allen, a dynamic, transformative leader, will assume a leading role in the HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, also an alumnus of Lincoln University, prevailed upon President Nkrumah to follow in his footsteps and attend Lincoln University. Perhaps Her Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador to the US, and a distinguished Fisk University and Meharry Medical College alumna, will prevail upon President Allen and a delegation from Lincoln University to join us in the Homecoming Initiative. NAFEO, of course, urges and encourages presidents and chancellors from each of the 106 HBCUs and 50 PBIs to participate; and we will work with the HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative to identify resources to make this possible”
According to Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, “At midnight on May 30th, the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement came into force; it covers 1.2 billion people and establishes a 2.3 trillion dollar market - an unprecedented feet as significant as the creation of the World Trade Organization”. This presents a historic opportunity that should engage the attention of HBCUs.
The program also includes remarks by Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University, Mr. Melvin Foote of Constituency for Africa, Ms.Tonija Navas, Director of Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, Dr. Jo-Ann Rolle, Dean of the School of Business, Medgar Evers College, City College of New York and representatives from Albany State University, Livingstone College and Delaware State University.
Mr. Kwabena Boateng, Founder and Co-President of African Diaspora Nation and Chair of the HBCU Africa Homecoming Initiative describes it as a “one-stop platform for exchange of opportunities between HBCUs and African Institutions.
RSVP information can be found at www.hbcuafricahomecoming.com.
Media Contact Information
African Diaspora Nation
950 Eagles Landing Parkway, Suite 686
Stockbridge Ga 30281
Attn: Kwabena Boateng
kboateng@africandiasporanation.org