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ANAC ADVOCATES USAGE OF "NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES" INSTEAD OF TERM "NIGERIAN DIASPORA"
ANAC Board and Stake Holders Unanimously Approve a Bill to drop usage of the phrase “Nigerians in Diaspora”, instead it adopted the term "Nigerian
International Community".
The Board of Trustees and Stake Holders of All Nigerian American Congress
{ANAC} met on Thursday Nov 2nd to discuss several proposals on first
reading. Among the bills discussed was the proposal to drop the usage of the
phrase “Nigerians in the Diaspora” in favor of “Nigerian International
Community”. The proposal was passed with a unanimous vote, and was adopted
as it reflects the true present position of millions of Nigerians Abroad.
The resolution will now be forwarded to the entire house of delegates in all
State Chapters accross the United States and chapters in existence outside
the United States as required by the ANAC constitution. However, with a
resolution passed by a unanimous vote by the Upper House of Trustees and
Stakeholders, it will take a joint session of all the State Chapter
Delegates and majority two third vote of the Trustees to overturn such a
resolution. The resolution is now circulated to the State Chapters houses of
delegates.
The term “Nigerians in Diaspora” means “a Scattered People without an
organized link to ancestral home or established communities in preset
domicile” according to Dr. Dan E. Austin, Chairman ANAC Board of Trustees.
Such view was also reflected by Dr. Bright Aregs, Vice President ANAC House
of Delegates and Dshaikh Izuchukw, Chairman of ANAC California. Dr.Aregs
added that the term "Diaspora" was first used historically to describe the
situation of Jews who had no established ancestral home prior to the
creation of the state of Israel in the forties and the post Christ
dispensation of Judao-Christian exodus. Since that period the Jews are no
longer regarded as a scattered people without ancestral home or established
domicile, consequently Jews no longer regard themselves as people in the
Diaspora. Other speakers noted that over the years the word “Diaspora”
has evolved and become associated with a recently dispersed reference.
Today, it has even extended to a negative connotation of some sect, and have
also acquired derogatory characteristics as well. As for example the
American Italian, Irish, Japanese communities will not succumb to the
reference as Italian diaspora or Irish diaspora. Its time we move forward as
a people of Nigerian origin residing in the International Communities. Many
of us have no intention of returning back to Nigeria, we have two to three
or even more generations now in our present domicile and have attained and
established well organized communities in our present domiciles, in some
cases have become leaders in local and national levels of our new
communities, emphasized the Chairman, Dan E. Austin M.D Our new and well
established generation need a more dignified reference as members of a well
respected and equal partners in the new international Nigerian community.
The adoption of the Phrase “Nigerian International Community” was
boosted by the argument that Nigerians abroad have an ancestral home of
Nigeria, and are no longer a first generation scattered people without an
organized ancestral home or notably established present domicile as
“Nigerians in Diaspora” portrays. The meeting also agreed to communicate
with the Nigerian Government authorities regarding the passed resolution,
and also engage the different other Nigerian regional and State based
organizations who consist by representation the entire ANAC.
Another resolution to grant four main regional Nigerian organizations the
South West Nigeria, South East Nigeria, South South Nigeria and Nothern
Nigeria, 8 seats in the ANAC Board of Trustees passed with a 7-3 vote, more
than the needed two third majority required to reject an objection from the
State Chapters house of delegates. More details on this will be provided
upon complete review by the board of Directors of the different selected
regional organizations and the entire State Chapters house of delegates.
Paul Okechukwu Oranika
Chairman, ANAC Public Affairs and Information
Chief Temitope Ajayi
President ANAC HOD
Dan E. Austin M.D
Chairman, Upper House of Delegates
Board of Directors/Trustees
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