Yoruba Alliance (USA) Donates to Ikeja Disaster Relief Fund

Yoruba Alliance an umbrella organization of Yoruba associations and clubs in the United State of America today presented a cheque for the dollar equivalent of Five Hundred Thousand naira (N500,000.00) towards the relief effort of victims of the Ikeja explosion disaster.

The presentation took place when the Alliance executive members led by its Chairman, Prince Ajibade Gbadegesin paid a courtesy call on Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States Professor Jibril Aminu.

Speaking on the occasion the Alliance Chairman reiterated that the donation was a fulfillment of a pledge made by the organization in a press release which appeared in the Guardian Newspaper of March last year.

Receiving the delegation, Professor Aminu commended the association for its generous donation and enjoined them to co-operate with other cultural groups to make contribution in uplifting the country. In this connection, he commended the Nigeria In Diaspora (NIDO) initiative to them as a useful vehicle for them to contribute with other Nigerians for the development of Nigeria. According to His Excellency, the most important lesson from the disaster is the need for Nigeria to develop a credible emergency response mechanism the existence of which would have saved all the innocent lives lost as a result of the unfortunate incident.

He enjoined Nigerians living in the United States to avail the country of the benefit of their expertise assuring them of the Embassy's willingness to connect with everyone.

Briefing the Ambassador earlier, Prince Gbadegesin enumerated various activities which the organization executed. They include the award of scholarship to sixteen (16) youths currently studying in different higher institutions in Nigeria; annual award night where Nigerians who have excelled in their chosen professions are recognized and honoured and the annual Yoruba Festival designed to promote Yoruba culture and tradition in the United States.

The association also seize the opportunity of the visit to express their appreciation to the Ambassador for the financial assistance he rendered to one Miss Adetunji of Howard University towards the completion of her university education.

Before leaving the Embassy the organisation's executives posed for a group photograph with the Ambassador and other senior members of the Embassy.

F.K. Martins
Head of Centre
September 10, 2002.