Nigerians, Jews & Humanity’s Common Good

By

Paul I. Adujie

Lawcareer@msn.com

New York, United States

American Jewish Committee Celebrates 100 Years of Public Service & Nigerians In-Diaspora Organization’s Partnership With AJC Culminates In Launching Of African Institute, Nigeria Peoples Forum 7 Years; Attainment & Debates Of  Common Good, Public Good For All Humanity - Adujie

American Jewish Committee or AJC for short stands for public good. Nigerians In-Diaspora Organization or NIDO for short stands for public good and so does Nigeria Peoples Forum, hereinafter referred to as NPF. And for convenience, we will now refer to these three organizations as AJC, NIDO and NPF respectively.

Published schedule of the above organizations informed the world of their activities spanning from Thursday May 4, 2006 through the weekend in Washington DC. The events were all directed at the attainment of public good, the common good of all, and in particular, the good of Jews and their Nigerian counterparts.

The United Nations was represented by its Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, the United States was represented by President Bush, Nigeria, was represented by Ambassador George Obizor and Ambassador Aminu Wali; Germany was represented by its new Chancellor Angela Merkel, and those who could not attend in person, attend via electronic means, as goodwill messages poured in from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel, Prime Minister Howard of Australia, and many more messages from governors of the states of the United States, Arnold Schwarznegger and New York’s Governor Pataki among others. It was a surprise to me, as to how many foreign heads of governments there were, which sent felicitations to AJC!

The one of the reasons that I write here about AJC is because of its parallel goals with NIDO, and perhaps NPF. I have not read NPF’s aims, objectives or mission statements. But its activities, in which I participated several days ago, are clearly geared towards a better Nigerian nation. And as everyone knows, NIDO is an umbrella organization that encompasses all Nigerian socio-economic, cultural, political organizations outside the shores of Nigeria. NIDO is therefore a clearing house for all the Ummunah, all the Parapo and all the Zumunta associations through which Nigerians in-Diaspora and their friends congregate and associate in the name of a better Nigeria for all Nigerians at home and abroad. I understand that NPF was founded almost a decade ago, by Professor Bart Nnaji

AJC is a similar organization for Jews. There are a plethora of Jewish organizations in the United States and across the world, who, are in the hot pursuit of the interests of Jews. But AJC acts as an umbrella organization or clearinghouse for Jewish organizations, it is safe to describe AJC as a conglomerate of Jewish organizations.

NIDO is in a mutually beneficial partnership with AJC. Some months ago, AJC provided for free, a workshop or seminar for representatives of NIDO worldwide, on how to serve Nigeria selflessly, let me add, to serve Nigerians and humanity, selflessly. It was an eye-opening event. AJC’s formative years experiences are quite similar, if not identical to the growing pains of NIDO. But now, AJC has accumulated laurels in public service, selfless service, over the course of 100 years (1906-2006)

AJC invited Dr. Ola Kassim, Engineer Jumoke Akin-Taylor and my humble self, to its gala night in celebration of AJC’s centennial or 100 years of service to humanity. AJC was formed in May of 1906 and this penultimate May 4, 2006, AJC clocked 100 years of doing public good, attaining common good for Jews and non-Jews.

NIDO goals, aims, objectives and mission statements are quite like AJC’s. NIDO aspirations are to corral every idea, every effort, energy, every technology and every processes and procedures that will benefit Nigerians, Nigeria and the world.

NIDO has therefore found wonderfully spectacular opportunities in partnering with AJC. NIDO is open to other organizations that are similarly favorably disposed to sharing ideas and methods with NIDO, as NIDO learns the ropes, the conquering of the challenges that beset those who aspire to do volunteer and selfless work. AJC has push and pull and clout

AJC is a veteran organization in this regard. It has a wealth of experience in the service of humanity, particularly Jews. And AJC has had an open door policy towards NIDO as it has been willingly, sharing its ideas and methods with NIDO representatives.

AJC invited Dr. Kassim, who is the current chairperson of NIDO North Americas, to witness AJC celebrations of a hundred years of accomplishments and achievements as well as the launching of The Africa Institute, an organization with strong support and affiliation with AJC. AJC acting as coordinator and an organizer, a motivator etc, as it provided the essential impetus for The African Institute founding.

So, Dr. Kassim, a Nigerian physician, who lives and has extensive medical business, in the form of a series of medical outfits  in Canada, left his business for several days, in the hot pursuit of Nigeria’s national interests. So did Engineer Jumoke Akin-Taylor, a NIDO coordinator extraordinaire, who similarly left her professional obligations and family obligations, just like the good doctor, all, in order to mind the store for Nigerians, at home and abroad, and yours truly, was just happy to be in their wondrously esteemed company.

Dr. Kassim and Engineer Taylor will answer you at 2:00AM or at other most inconvenient times, if your inquiry concern Nigerians and Nigeria and that is an understatement, considering their demonstrated sense of patriotism and commitment and, my experience with them, working assiduously on Nigeria’s behalf.

The activities began on Thursday May 4, 2006 In Washington DC, we witnessed the AJC gala, which included speeches of commitment to Jews and Jewish causes from President Bush and UN Secretary General Annan and other eminent personalities from across the world. The Africa Institute was launched.

President Bush, Kofi Annan UN Secretary General, Angela Kertel Chancellor of Germany, all in the same hall assembled, for a common purpose, the service of humanity.

Dr. Ola Kassim is a physician, with a series of medical establishments in Canada, Engineer Jumoke Akin-Taylor and I, were invited by American Jewish Committee and Nigeria Peoples Forum to participate in a) American Jewish Committee AJC Centennial celebrations (19906-2006) 100 hundred years of public service, doing public good through public service.

And Nigeria Peoples Forum had invited the three of us to its Good Governance & Democracy in Nigeria Seminar/Conference. Several position papers were delivered by seasoned academicians and policy wonks, by Nigerians and Americans.

Dr. Kassim, an outstanding physician in Canada, operates medical clinics and laboratories in Canada, where he lives, he excused himself from his 15 hours a day schedule, in order to grace these events in Washington DC.

Dr. Kassim is the Chairperson of Nigerians in-Diaspora Organization, NIDO, in North America wing. Engineer Jumoke Akin-Taylor is your quintessential energizer bunny zealous patriot, with tireless energy anywhere and anytime Nigerians issues are at stake.

I have known Jumoke for several years now, and I have never known her to tire of fathoming ways, best ways to serve Nigeria selflessly. Her commitment to Nigeria defies my experience with people here in New York City, where people are liable to be all stressed out with the fast pace of life around here. New York City is a place where people are compelled to frequently engage in cost analyses of every action. What is it for me? Is a recurring question that is literarily on every lips; Jumoke has never disappointed me or anyone when it comes to what Nigeria deserves in terms of public service.

Engineer Jumoke Taylor will convince any diehard cynic, pessimist and despair merchant in-chief as to why Nigeria’s cause is ALWAYS a worthy cause whether in rain or sunshine or snowstorms and in humid summer afternoon!

She left her family and professional obligations for several days to serve Nigeria national interests attending AJC and NPF events we all shuttled from one hotel to the other, hotels where we stayed individually and severally, and hotels where the events were spread, seminar, gala, dinner and dance etc from Marriot, Residence Inn, Ritz Carlton to Carnegie Endowment for International Peace at hectic pace, in taxis, on foot, sitting, standing, making speeches or listening to speeches or explaining Nigeria to everyone in the audience.

We explained Nigeria to the audience we asked questions, answered some questions and expressed appreciations frequently. We were exhausted and spent, but we were delighted all the same, because it were all for our beloved country and homeland, Nigeria. These were volunteer efforts at great personal expenses of money, time and convenience but all worth it! 

I plan to write more about the NPF and Professor Maurice Iwu, and particularly about Professor Iwu’s exuberance, enthusiasm, confidence and his extraordinary grasps of all Nigerian issues, elections and all.

I personally worried that there was a pervasive despair, pessimism, cynicism, fatalismWe will pray for Nigeria was the frequent refrain was repeated ad nauseam in mournful ominous tones by many. Wonderful ideas were proffered repeatedly, but with some aura of, these ideas, as good as they sound, would not work in Nigeria, would not be accepted in Nigeria, or the impression was given, that it is too late or futile to try anything in Nigeria

Too many spoke, as if Nigeria is beyond redemption somehow. Some guest speakers spoke as if Nigeria is irredeemably bad hopeless. Some guest speakers spoke with a sense of evil foreboding or some sorts of harbingers of sinister qualities 

The two events occurred in Washington DC between May 4, and 5, 2006 concurrently.

NIDO were a part of two events in Washington DC, events organized by AJC and NPF

These events brought together peoples of various background, various races, religions and nationalities, but more specifically, Nigerians and Jews. These events invited my participations, even with conflicting schedules.

The closeness of the schedules was exemplified by the similarities in passions that overflowed on behalf of Nigerians and Jews. There emotions driven by patriotism and love of country, which made these events must see, must hear and must participate for me; Guest speakers, were numerous persons with varied professions and personalities participating directly at both events.

These personalities ranged from the most socially liberal to the most conservative. Bush, Annan, Utomi, Iwu, Aluko, Babalola etc Professor Iwu of Independent Electoral Commission wowed everyone with his enthusiasm, his exuberance, his passion and zeal, all geared towards making Nigeria a marvel of the world. Professor Iwu’s passions were the exact opposite, when contrasted against the pervasive despair, cynicism and pessimism that characterized the tones and deliveries of public lectures by most guest speakers. Speakers were professionals who have excelled in their various fields of expertise and the bulk of these public intellectuals were drawn from the academe.

The presentations were vibrant and very vigorous. The interactive sessions that followed these presentations by NPF guest speakers, were equally very lively and informative.

Speaker after speaker made meaningful contributions through their analyses of the challenges of the past and what future challenges may be. Solutions were proffered aplenty. But there were the pervasive and all permeating sense hopelessness, as if Nigeria was some sorts of vehicle without brakes speeding on a slope toward a cliff and bottomless pit etc.

My impressions were that the pessimists outnumbered those with positive expectations.

On the whole, the AJC, NIDO and NPF events were wonderful experiences in the pursuit of common good for Nigeria. These were lessons in human refinements of the best kind. These were how to, for anyone, particularly, for Nigerians interested in selfless service.