The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIDO

  • Indiana NIDO kingpins receive CBI African Icons Merit Award (AIMA)

    Indiana NIDO kingpins receive CBI African Icons Merit Award (AIMA)

    History was made on Saturday, September 6, 2025, as the CBI Community Network launched her maiden edition of the prestigious CBI African Icons Merit Award.

    The event, held at the Global Village Welcome Center, Indianapolis, was a night of glamour, excellence and cultural pride, which brought together eminent personalities across various African communities in the state of Indiana. Seventeen prestigious awards in different categories were given, out of which Nigerians in Diaspora Organization claimed three.

    Prominent among the celebrated honorees were three distinguished leaders of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Indiana Chapter—Chief Emannuel Nsonwu, Chief Henry Onochie and Bishop Dr. Sunday Robert Eze.

    NIDO Indiana has excelled in mobilising, supporting and creating opportunities for new and old Nigerian-based immigrants in the diaspora.

    The awardees are:

    * Chief Henry Onochie – A prominent industrialist and founder of HCO, an award winning architectural firm of international repute. Deeply rooted in African heritage, Chief Onochie’s leadership spans across NIDO Indiana and the Ozo Society of Onitsha, reflecting a life dedicated to both cultural preservation and professional excellence. While receiving the award, Chief Henry Onochie expressed his appreciation to the organizers and encouraged the youths to remain focused, purposeful, and patient in their pursuits.

    * Chief Emmanuel Nsonwu – Emeritus President of NIDO Indiana and a member of NIDO’s Unified National Board of Directors. His leadership has advanced the welfare of Nigerians abroad, directly impacting thousands within Indiana and across the United States. Chief Nsonwu emphasized the importance of preserving our culture and upholding our legacies by carrying them into our new home country, where future generations can learn and draw strength from them. He spoke extensively on the need to sustain our moral values and cultural heritage as guiding principles for our community.

    Read Also: Edun: 80% of Budget 2024 capital vote released

    * Bishop Dr. Sunday Robert-Eze – President and CEO of Embassy Business Group and Managing Partner at Modern Woodmen of America, he has guided hundreds of families and small businesses toward financial stability, offering customized life insurance, retirement plans, and wealth-building strategies. He served for two terms as General Secretary and Board Trustee of NIDO Indiana. His contributions have strengthened cultural, social, and economic ties between Africans abroad and their home countries, reinforcing NIDO’s mission at both local and international levels. Bishop Robert-Eze, in his response to the gesture, emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among Africans in driving the collective will for progress.

    Under their leadership, NIDO Indiana has spearheaded life-changing initiatives such as passport intervention programs, National Identification Number (NIN) registration, and Bank Verification Number (BVN) assignments. These initiatives have spared countless Nigerians the financial and logistical burdens of long-distance travel for critical national documentation—making government services more accessible to the diaspora.

    Convener and founder of CBI Community Network, Mr. Sunday Lanre Omotoso, popularly known as Larritosh, said: “The award is not a gift but a merit.”

     Omotoso said that the awardees were rewarded based on the merit of their impacts and contributions to society. The event was graced by countless African dignitaries across the state of Indiana.

  • Kidnappings: NIDO Americas seeks action on insecurity

    Kidnappings: NIDO Americas seeks action on insecurity

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Americas has commended the Federal Government’s recent rescue of 137 school children kidnapped in the Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

    It stressed the urgent need for broader solutions to Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity challenges.

    The pupils were released after 17 days in captivity.

    Their release came a day after another group of 17 pupils abducted on 9 March from a school in Sokoto State were freed.

    While applauding the swift action in the Kaduna case, NIDO Americas noted that numerous other kidnappings occurred without similar public attention.

    Read Also: Insecurity threatens education in Nigeria, New Report warns

    The organisation noted the human cost, saying it shattered families.

    It further highlighted the lost lives and exorbitant ransoms – and the need for comprehensive security measures.

    NIDO Americas also expressed concern over insecurity in farmlands, which worsens food insecurity and threatens livelihoods.

    “We call upon the security forces and elected officials to prioritise the safety and well-being of all Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The organisation pledged its support in overcoming these challenges.

    It urged collaboration among all stakeholders to address the root causes of insecurity and create a safer Nigeria.

  • Response of Europeans to Nigerian jollof rice “overwhelming”

    Mrs Vera Onche, a food vendor, who lives in Bern, says the response of Europeans and other nationals to Nigerian foods such as jollof rice, plantain and pepper soup is “ overwhelming “.

    Onche, who participated during the 2018 African Cultural Festival in Bern which showcased varieties of dishes, arts and craft exhibition as well as cultural display from the continent, said Nigerian delicacies are unbeatable.

    ‘Most of the Europeans who came to my pavilion ate the Jollof  rice and bought take away because they enjoyed our food’

    She said she got comments like. ‘This is so tasty and spicy.  This tastes good!’ ‘This smells so good.’ ‘What spices did you put?’

    Read Also: Summit seeks expansion of organic farming

    Onche said that she locally sourced all the ingredients for the various dishes as it was cumbersome to export certain food into Switzerland.

    While speaking on the challenges food vendors faced , she decried the high cost of running a restaurant in Bern, saying that the cost of rent alone was a major shortcoming.

    Also speaking, Mr Abdullahi Isah, organiser of the African Cultural Festival in Switzerland, tasked food vendors and restaurant owners on good presentation of African cuisines.

    Isah in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), said that if the presentation of African dishes met international standard , it would promote food tourism.

    However, Isah who was a former Chairman of the Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation(NIDO)Switzerland, said that in the area of preservation , African food does not require much .

    “ Unlike other continental dishes , our food have little or no preservatives, dishes are freshly made and eaten. Therefore preservation is not a challenge “

    “Although some of the ingredients can not be locally sourced” he added.

    According to him, the annual festival is aimed at bringing the African diaspora together with Swiss people to foster relations between them and to promote integration.

    Similarly

    Others who spoke to NAN expressed gratitude to the organisers for hosting the festival saying that it would further deepen relations between Swiss people and the African diaspora

    NAN reports that Food vendors from the Nigeria diaspora had five pavilions, while other business had several stands.

  • NIDO Germany president Alaekwe dies

    NIDO Germany president Alaekwe dies

    President of the German chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Kenneth Chukwudi Alaekwe has passed away.

    He died at the age of 55 on Saturday at a Berlin hospital after a brief illness.

    Kenneth is survived by his wife Ulla and son Henry.

    He was also an energetic and dedicated member of the Nigerian community. He was elected President of NIDO Germany in May 2017 and he served the body with distinction in that capacity until his untimely demise. He had earlier also served the organization as Vice President from 2013-2017.

    At the time of his death, Alaekwe was Director for Conference Production at Marcus Evans (Germany) Ltd, an international business conferencing group. He joined the company in 1999 and rose through its ranks to become a director.

    Alaekwe was born in 1962 in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, where he attended primary and secondary schools. He later studied at the Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI (USA), where he bagged a BA in History/Political Science. He later earned a Master’s degree in International Relations/International Business at Webster University (USA).

    Publisher, The African Courier Femi Awoniyi, who is also a Germany-based Nigerian said: “Kenneth was an accomplished professional and was blessed with a very successful career. In fact, he was one of a very few number of Africans in upper management at a German company.

    “Alaekwe was a quintessential gentleman, soft spoken and humble and left behind the image of a friendly, fine, thoughtful and reliable person with all who came across him in his short, but eventful life.

    “Kenneth was also an Associate Publisher of The African Courier. He contacted me in 1999, a year after I founded the publication and indicated his interest to support the initiative of creating an active media outlet for the African community in Germany.

    “And he did it in an honorary capacity as he was a full-time employee of Marcus Evans, where he had just started a career in Business Conference as a sales executive.”

  • No Nigerian died in Texas Hurricane Harvey, says NIDO

    NO Nigerian died due to the Hurricane Harvey in Texas, United States (U.S.), the Nigerian in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), has said.

    Akin Awofolaju, a NIDO official, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday that the organisation had reached out to Nigerians in the area.

    The devastating hurricane made landfall in the state a week ago and has been blamed for at least 47 deaths.

    No fewer than 43,000 people are currently housed in shelters while 156,000 homes are reportedly affected.

     Awofolaju said: “So far, we don’t have any Nigerian who has lost his or her life in the hurricane. We’ve reached out to them and they are safe.

    “We’ve spoken and have been speaking with Nigerians there; we have been reaching out to them and so far, no death has been recorded among Nigerians.”

    NAN gathered that many Nigerians in Texas whose areas are not affected by the hurricane are accommodating Nigerians that are affected, pending when the floods recede and government relief assistance.

    Awofolaju noted that for more than three months, relevant authorities have been telling people to evacuate, saying many people actually evacuated.

    “Many people listened and heeded the warnings; those who defied the warnings are most affected. But one good thing about the U.S. is that insurance will cover most of the damages,” he said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife, Melania, at the weekend returned to Houston, praising the relief response on his second visit to Texas.

     The president also declared yesterday a “National Day of Prayer” for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

    Mr. Trump had asked Congress for $7.9 billion as an initial payment to help with recovery efforts following the flooding in both Texas and Louisiana.

  • Chime, Ekweremadu Shema, others for NIDO award

    Chime, Ekweremadu Shema, others for NIDO award

    Nigerian in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Germany has planned to honour Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime, his counterpart in Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema and Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, with the prestigious leadership service award.

    The award, slated for September 6 in Hamburg, Germany and organised by NIDO in collaboration with ABG PAULAS and Heritage Media Network, is to recognise deserving Nigerians who have shown exceptional and remarkable leadership qualities in their endeavours.

    In a statement yesterday by its organising secretary and spokesman for NIDO Germany, Mr. Ambrose Okojie, in Abuja, he noted that the award was organised to recognise and appreciate hard work and excellence in service.

    He said most Nigerians contributed to the development of the country in terms of good governance and leadership service delivery without being rewarded or recognised.

    This, Okojie said, was not healthy for the country.

    Others to be honoured  are Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. Minister of Transport Alhaji Idris, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, Yakubu Yunusa, the Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, Julliet Obeta, the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government and Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, the President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

    Okoji said the selection of awardees was based on merit, as NIDO conducted visibility studies on the awardees before enlisting or nominating them for the award.

    The statement noted that the award was a way to encourage and appreciate those who worked hard and were committed to peace, good governance and contributed to political and economic development of the country.

    It reads: “We are conscious of the difficulties you and our country are facing and are therefore gratified that you have stood your ground in pursuit of national development in your areas of jurisdiction.”

     

     

     

    NIDO Germany has resolved to honour distinguished Nigerians at home who in 2013/14 performed well in their areas of call.”

    NIDO Germany is an organisation comprising skilled and qualified Nigerians in Germany, pulled together by their passion for a sustainable development in their country.