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NEWS INSIGHT
Community Service Awards Event bring policy and business leaders together with African community at Texas Southern University
Howard Jefferson receives USAfrica Nelson Mandela Civil Rights
Award, Kase Lukman Lawal is Business Person of
The Year, 1997 at USAfrica Community Service & Business Leadership Awards It was an evening of networking for the African community with the other distinguished persons who strategically and daily influence events for the community, the city of Houston and in many aspects the African continent. June 27, 1997 at the Texas Southern University, one of the media titles from USAfrica Digital Media Networks, USAfrica The Newspaper, celebrated its 3rd Anniversary and honored some Africans and Americans with the USAfrica Business Leadership & Community Service Awards. The newspaper was first published May 11, 1994. Meanwhile, the Founder & Publisher of USAfrica Chido Nwangwu has announced "the 1998 Anniversary event will have the Community Service Awards celebrating the theme: "AFRICAN CHILDREN, OUR OWN, OUR FUTURE". During the event of our anniversary next year, USAfrica The Newspaper will honor, institutionally, the U.S Committee of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Also, there will be individual honorees who continue to make the business and interests of Americans work to the benefit of our two continents." Former Presidents of the U.S Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford are honorary co-chairs. Hugh Downs of the ABC News 20/20 is chairman. Charles J. Lyons is acting president and chief executive officer of the UNICEF in the U.S. John M. Tsacrios Jr is the president of the Houston chapter.
According to Musolino "conducting business with Africa is an important and exciting undertaking....The challenges and potentials offered by this complex, diverse, enormous continet open a whole new world of opportunity for Houston's global entrepeneurs. Acccording to the information we receive from the United States Deaprtament of Commerce, from our own research, and from our many distinguished visitors from various African countries, the opportunities for local companies with Africa span its vastness. And the potential, if and when realized, promises to be staggering." Congresswoman Jackson Lee stated "Africa is not only home to millions of African-Americans but a viable, useful area of rewarding business. We requested President to visit Africa, and he has promised he will do so, soon. Very soon." The audience which included president of the Nigerian Foundation James Okorafor, Oli Mohammed of the Furniture Bank and a key support of UNICEF, Jelani Williams of the Taseti Study Group, Dr. Alozie Ugboaja, Dr. Iris Perkins, TSU Director of International Student Affairs, Prof. Louis Browne, professor of communications and chairman of TSU Communications Department, IPC president Benneth Okpala, Kim Nichols from Council member Jew Don Boney's office, Fabian Okeke, and a host of others applauded the information. Congresswoman Lee, first recipient of the USAfrica Legislative Leadership Award, in bringing the felicitations of the 18th congressional district of Texas said "the vision and outstanding professional commitment of the Founder of USAfrica has made a major difference in the way Americans understand the issues concerning business, policy matters and simply everyday interaction. I am proud to be associated with your publications." She reminded "the issues that you have promulgated are many times misunderstood by those closest to them. It is the work and spirit of organizations like yours that help to bridge that gap of communication and information. You can play a vital part in improving the avenues of dialogue regarding business among continental Africans, African-Americans and all others with diverse interests worldwide. We commend your diligence and perseverance." Houston's Mayor Pro Tem Gracie Guzman Saenz who attended the event with her husband said the city has been a very hospitable area for immigrants and will continue to be so. She noted the richness of Houston's immigrant experience is a major part of its value as one of the more important communities in the world. She recalled "it was only a few months ago that I was honored with the founder of USAfrica by the National Immigration Forum, Washington D.C., and I am very happy to witness yet another major milestone in the development and history of USAfrica The Newspaper." Major highlights of the awards that evening were the presentations of the 1st USAfrica Business Person of The Year, 1997 to CAMAC Holdings In.c Chariman & CEO Kase Lukman Lawal and the prestigious USAfrica Nelson Mandela Civil Rights Award to Houston's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) president Howard Jefferson "for a lifetime of commitment to working tirelessly and defending the interests of civil rights of our community for over 30 years." It was presented by retiring president of Shell Oil in the west African country of the Cameroons, Bruce Bernard and his wife, Susan; and USAfrica's Founder. The traditional African kolanut was presented by Dr. Lucius Akuchie to the delight of the guests, especially for some Americans who had their first thirst of that symbolic item. One was reserved for the Mayor of Houston Bob Lanier. The entire list of the Honorees & Honors bestowed at the USAfrica Community Service & Business Leadership Awards on June 27, 1997 are:
Business Person of the Year, 1997
Pillar of US & Africa Business Leadership Award, 1997
USAfrica Legislative Leadership Award, 1997
Community Responsibility Leadership Award, 1997
USAfrica Nelson Mandela Civil Rights Award, 1997
USAfrica Broadcaster of theYear, 1997
Community Service Leadership Award, 1997
Pillar of U.S & Africa Business & Investments, 1997
Community Service Leadership Award, 1997
Community Banker of the Month, June 1997
Community Business Leadership Award, 1997
Community Grocers of the Year, 1997
Community Service Award, 1997 USAfrica's anniversary & Community Service Event held annually is the major social/business forum involving leaders and captains of business in the African community, African-Americans and other American leaders in this part of the U.S. Detailed reporting and pictures from the event will appear in the July 15 edition of USAfrica The Newspaper. Updates to this story online will appear on July 3. Back to: News Index, or USAfrica Homepage |