FON news Spring '13.pdf - Friends of Nigeria

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President’s ColumnPresident’s FarewellBy Mike Goodkind (16) 65-67This month I have the pleasure aftersix years (who’s counting) of turning overthe presidency of Friends of Nigeria toGreg Jones. The organization is in goodhands. Greg has made major contributionsto FON’s growth as an organizationthat is doing some useful things onthe ground in Nigeria and has an activepilot program to benefit the Nigeriandiaspora in the United States. Gregspearheaded our giving program to theFantsuam Foundation. This initially benefitteda microloan program, primarilyfor women undertaking small businesses.He nimbly helped us shift our focus tobroader programs, and then, to emergencyaid when violence struck the heartof Fantsuam’s service area in the Kafanchanarea. Greg organized our successfulBoston meeting in 2009, and has beena consistent leadership force and sourceof wise counsel as long as I’ve served aspresident.FON’s roots lie with its role as analumni association for former PeaceCorps and other expatriate volunteersand staff working in Nigeria. In the pastfew years we have expanded that visionwith such programs as funding smallbut potentially life-changing projectsspearheaded by VSO volunteers, whoincreasingly are coming to Nigeria fromother African countries. In a partnershipwith the Peace Corps Nigeria AlumniFoundation, we are providing scholarships,targeted for women at the AmericanUniversity of Nigeria. We providedsupport for operating room power supplypacks to the We Care Solar projectbefore international donors became morenumerous. As Greg fully understands,FON cannot remain a standalone groupof Nigeria Peace Corps alumni. We canpass along our vision or hang on until wedisappear — which is going to happenwhether FON continues or not. I lookforward to having Greg, our board andour members nudge us forward andperform the tasks needed to make newinitiatives and a durable legacy a reality.Personally, I do hope to continueactive involvement with FON, mostimmediately with our website and overallcommunications effort. At some point Imight write a longer reminiscence aboutthe wonderful folks who continue toinspire me at FON, but right now I’dsimply like to thank the many FON supporters,members and directors who havecontributed so much to FON and madethe tasks I was assigned or undertookfeasible and almost always a pleasure.New President’s HelloBy Greg Jones (22) 66-68I have been imposing on MikeGoodkind these past eight months bynot taking over the FON Presidencybecause of my bout with Multiple Myeloma.I am happy to report that I amsufficiently on the mend to allow Miketo take a well-deserved exit. You neverget cured of MM, but they can put it farenough into remission that somethingelse will have a chance get you.I will not claim to have a big personalagenda for FON. Mike has led an organizationwith a vibrant list of activitiesand a board that is incredibly eager tochew over proposals until they arrive atthe best outcome. I certainly think of mytime in Nigeria as a formative experiencein my life. Returning to my classroomas part of the Nigeria Trip in 2008 wasa thrill. On that same trip finding anorganization like Fantsuam Foundationdelivering a broad spectrum of developmentfinance and social services wasquite satisfying. I am still a big advocatefor Fantsuam, but the personal contactis now over 4 years old, and we all knowthings change fast in Nigeria.The annual NPCA meeting thisyear is in Boston, June 28-29. FONdoes not plan any formal presence there,but members of the committee thatorganized the Boston FON meetingin 2009 will host a dinner on Saturdayevening for any FON members whochoose to join us. The NPCA eventends with “an awards ceremony for ourWofford, Shriver and Ruppe award(Continued on next page)FRIENDS OF NIGERIANEWSLETTERQuarterly publication of Friends of Nigeria, Inc.www.friendsofnigeria.orgaffiliate of theNational Peace Corps AssociationEditorJim Clarkwjclark016@gmail.comLayout EditorOwen Hartfordhartfordo@earthlink.netAssistant EditorWarren Kellerwarrendkk@yahoo.comNigeria News EditorVirginia DeLanceyv-delancey@northwestern.eduBook EditorDavid Straindestrain@pacbell.netProofreadersEarl (Buzz) WelkerSteve ManningAlice O’GradyMary-Ann PalmieriPrinterLeesburg Printing CompanyLeesburg, Florida-------------------------FRIENDS OF NIGERIABOARD OF DIRECTORSPresidentMike Goodkindgoodkindm@gmail.comVice PresidentGreg Jonesgregory.j@comcast.netMembership ChairBarbara Tansey Bushbtbush@earthlink.netTreasurerPeter J. Hansenpjhansen@ia.netSecretaryMurray Frankmwfrank17@gmail.comNewsletter EditorJim Clarkwjclark016@gmail.comLucinda Boydboydcinda@gmail.comSteve ClappSteve.Clapp@informa.comVirginia DeLanceyv-delancey@northwestern.eduFr. Edward Inyanwachiesinyanwachi@dons.usfca.eduLynn Cloonan Olsonlynn.olson59@gmail.comAndy Philpotawphilpot@shaw.caJohn Romanoroman001@umn.eduGregory Zellgregzell@mindspring.com2 FON Newsletter Spring 2013
FON NewsWinners of First FON/PCNAF Nigerian Female LeadersScholarship AnnouncedBy Jim Clark (12) 64-66and Steve Clapp(06) 62-64Dr. Kimberly Sims, Assistant Professorand Department Chair for Internationaland Comparative Politics at theAmerican University of Nigeria-Yola, recentlyannounced the winners of the firstFriends of Nigeria (FON)/Peace CorpsNational Alumni Foundation (PCNAF)Nigerian Female LeadersScholarship. SistersHadiza and Queen Sabofrom Northern Nigeria,both with strong academicrecords and communityinvolvement but littlefinancial support wereidentified and selectedas the first scholarshipwinners. In her announcement,Dr. Sims had thefollowing to say aboutthese two students:“A tragedy which hadbeen unfolding over thelast few years involvedtwo particular students,Queen and Hadiza Sabo, both studentsin the Department of International andComparative Politics, and both in theirsenior year. These two young womenhad been attending AUN with no effectivefinancial support from their family.They had lived hand-to-mouth, butclung tenaciously to their hopes of a universitydegree. All the while, universitybills mounted while both young womenstruggled with chronic health problems.The two were sent home from AUNlast year — where they attempted tofind jobs, without luck. They illustratedwhat is grimly axiomatic in Nigeriansociety — that without a bachelor’sHadiza, Queen & Dr. Kimberly Simsdegree, one can not hope to be hired ineven low-level entry positions. This is aparticularly grievous situation for youngwomen, who already exist in a relativeposition of vulnerability in Nigerian society.With only one year until completionof the degree, they were desperate tofind a solution to pay the sum owed tothe University — a considerable sum.They were willing to work, and haddrawn up various vending businessproposals, but all doors appeared closedto them. They were in an abject state ofdespair — Hadiza confided in me thatshe felt that there existed ‘no hope, nohope at all.’When my colleaguesin the department of Internationaland ComparativePolitics heard of thisdesperate situation, theytook the unprecedentedstep of starting a scholarshipfund. They staunchlysupport the sisters, whoare dedicated and talentedstudents. Not only doesthe department believestrongly in the potentialof these young women,but likewise our universityPresident, Dr. MargeeEnsign, has demonstratedher ongoing support of these youngwomen. They are not only gifted withgreat potential, but thankful beyond ordinarygratitude. To quote Queen: ‘….tobe able to continue our education is…. amiracle, our miracle.’(President’s Column Continued from page2)winners and reception complete withbeer, wine, soft drinks and heavy horsd’oeuvres”, so we will not be preemptingany NPCA dinner.FON is required by our bylaws tohave a bi-annual meeting. Mike Goodkindhas suggested the Asimolar ConferenceCenter in Pacific Grove, CA onOctober 17-20. It is a beautiful location,and they have very nice facilities, but it isnot cheap, and there is no close academiccommunity from which to draw speakers.But having beaten the comparativelyrich academic bushes around Boston in2009 for speakers to enlighten us on Nigeriawith no success, I suggest we havea meeting that concentrates on what ourown members have to say and reestablishinglinks with fellow Nigerian PCVs.It should be a wonderful time to reflectand refresh and plan our future.We certainly have issues to confrontas an organization. Should we continuejust as an alumni organization ofNigerian PCVs, or is it viable for us toreach out to the Nigerian expatriate communityfor new members and a contemporaryfocus? How can we best impactthe course of events in Nigeria with ourlimited means and outdated contacts?Would members like FON to organizeadditional trips back to Nigeria? Is therea role for super-annuated former volunteersto make an impact on the countrythat helped them to define themselves intheir youth?Assuming the presidency of an organizationlike FON is certainly a stimulatingchallenge. I hope I am sufficient tothe task and that FON can continue asthe vibrant organization Mike Goodkindhas handed on to me.Spring 2013FON Newsletter 3
Page 1: Friends of Nigeria Newsletterwww.fr
Page 5 and 6: Letters to the Editorgreater gift.D
Page 7 and 8: Projectsawareness and assist in the
Page 9 and 10: Book Reviewsmurderous conflict and
Page 11 and 12: Recollectionsing him around the cor
Page 13 and 14: In MemorianBy Jim Clark (12) 64-66H
Page 15 and 16: Nigeria NewsEdited by Virginia DeLa
Page 17 and 18: Nigeria Newsment is creating jobs a
Page 19 and 20: Nigeria Newsdevelopment projects, a

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