African immigrant population in the US is to benefit from a resource center that has been established in the State of Virginia as an umbrella body to meet and address the developmental needs of the ever growing African population. The resource center which goes by the name ?National African Immigrant Resource Center (NAIRC)?, is a Non-Profit Organization; faith-based; and will be working with States and Civil Society Organizations in the execution of its set goals and objectives. The Center will also draw support from both the government and public institutions in sharpening the socio-cultural, academic and professional skills of the less endowed African migrants.
This hint was dropped in an exclusive interview with Mr. Samuel Agyei Boateng, a Ghanaian social worker based in the States, who happened to be the personality who mooted the NAIRC idea. He said ?the Center aims at being the leading resource repository and clearing house for African immigrants in the US?. According to Mr. Boateng the Center will network and render services to the African community and this has been categorized under four major themes, Legal; Education, Counseling and Health/ Human services. He said NAIRC will vigorously pursue the above themes to realize its desired goals and objectives.
He also touched on some major areas that their operations will cover; these include, ?Immigration and Naturalization, career guidance, capacity building and skills development, Family and youth empowerment, education financing, violence prevention, cultural adjustment, etc?? Boateng a product of Legon, George Mason and Ohio Universities noted that in the interest of America?s human resource development, NAIRC will employ numerous tools in assisting the African immigrants to access and maximize their immigration opportunities. He mentioned, ?NAIRC will embark on a massive research and outreach to identify the strengths, problem areas and source funds for the implementation of the various projects?. When Boateng was quizzed on what prompted him to come out with such noble, progressive and pragmatic ideas, he noted ?It was based on personal experience, extensive research, literature reviews, community consultations, and surveys and coupled with other investigative processes that have confirmed that very little attention was being devoted to supporting African immigrants. African immigrants are at the bottom of every initiative and decision making process- they lack effective voice and participation in the socio-political and economic spheres. On the issue of resource persons who will work and assist with the operations and activities of NAIRC to give it a true image of a Non-Profit Organization representing the entire African continent as envisioned in its mission statement. The following dignitaries were mentioned as people who have volunteered to serve in various capacities;
1. Dr. Atobra- Ghanaian Princeton product-Chairman
2. Prof. Akyeampong- Ghanaian (Harvard Professor)
3. Dr. Beatrice Wamey- from Cameroon
4. Pastor Matilda Banga- from Senegal
5. Mr. Amo- An Entrepreneur
6. Mr. Baafor Ennin- HR Specialists
7. Mrs. Clayton Brightwell- Lawyer
8. Mr. Omozee- from Nigerian
9. Alhaji Ibrahim- Islamic scholar
10. Dr. Francis Manana- from Uganda
11. Fred Nnoma-Addison- CEO and Eminent African ethnic community leaders as well as eminent US Personalities.
In a reaction to a question on the modus operandi that NAIRC was to adopt in the performance of its activities, Boateng said, ?NAIRC hopes to achieve its goals and objectives by organizing educational and informational events on a regular basis; partnering with US Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) and other institutions in frequent outreach programs and also to provide tools and resources to meet specific needs of African immigrants across the US. NAIRC will work with US County officials and African governments and philanthropists to construct the first African Hall in the USA.
About the future of NAIRC, Mr. Samuel Boateng who sounded very confident, full of hopes and was very optimistic, put it, ?NAIRC is a bridge for success, no doubt, it goes by the slogan, -Preparing America?s Migrant Workforce for Success?. He added that with the help of federal and local governments, partner institutions, the African Diplomatic Corps and other stakeholders, the Center will be able through collaborative efforts help to address the rising complex needs and nature of the US based African population. He concluded by saying that the future of NAIRC is very bright. It hopes not only to provide a voice for African immigrants but also to mobilize their energies for the development of the mother continent.
NAIRC has developed its own website (www.thenairc.org). And for further information contact the following.
1. Mr. Samuel Boateng
Phone (1-703-229-9942)
E mail (boat2002gh2000@yahoo.ca or boateng@thenairc.org)
2. Mr. Frederick Nnoma-Addison
Phone (1-202-460-3912)
E mail (nnomaddison@yahoo.com)
