The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians, AON, has joined other African groups and individuals to denounce the recent disparaging statements and pronouncements attributed to President Donald Trump about El Salvador, Haiti, and Africa.
AON, in a statement by its president, Solomon Bakare, expressed appreciation to people in both private and public sectors who have contributed to the discussions about these statements and have raised awareness of the issues such statements reveal.
“We want to state here categorically that Africans, and Nigerians in particular, are resilient, hard-working, and productive members of the society. They constantly contribute to the fabric of local, state, and the national economy. It is no accident that the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has made references to Nigerians in particular during his campaign, and since his presidency, he is stunned to discover that there are many successful Nigerians in all walks of life living in the United States.”
Bakare said that Africans and Nigerians have excelled in numerous careers in commerce, education, technology, health, sports, entertainment, and academics. Recently, Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, who not only successfully removed a baby from a Texan mother’s womb at 23 weeks, but also returned the baby its mother’s womb after removing a tumor from it, received his education from a Nigerian university.
In 2016, Bakare stressed that 43 of the 96 graduating Doctor of Pharmacy candidates at Howard University were Nigerians, and 16 of the 27 awards that were given went to Nigerians. “Interestingly, one of President Trump economic advisors early in his administration, Adebayo Ogunlesi, is a Nigerian,” he said.
According to him, millions of Americans live in Africa, and thousands of those Americans choose to live in Nigeria, stressing that the US Bureau of Statistics and Census stated that Nigerians are the most educated immigrants in the United States, and they have the highest education attainment rate.
“Clearly, the president’s unfortunate statements about Nigerians and Nigeria are not just disgraceful and unfounded. They are signs that the president is horrendously misinformed about Nigeria, and they are signs that the president does not truly understand how influential, exceptional, and powerful Nigerians are.
“Therefore, on behalf of the citizens of Nigeria, the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians would like to encourage Mr. Trump to visit an African country, Nigeria in particular, in order to experience the warm hospitality of the people and the beautiful culture that Africa has to offer. Nigeria is certainly not a shithole, and experiencing what African countries have to offer will most assuredly prove this.”
Founded over 25 years ago, the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians is a New York-based not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of Nigerians in the Diaspora; and has been at the forefront of encouraging Nigerians to make positive contributions in the United States.
OAN is also the arrowhead of the Nigeria Independence Day Parade Committee, which is a coalition of Nigerian religious, professional, and socio-cultural organizations that plans the annual Nigeria Independence Day Parade in New York City.
OAN also sponsors seminars and symposia on various topical issues, and has received several awards, proclamations, and citations from City, State, and Federal elected officials for its work.
