Opening remarks by Hon. Geoffrey Teneilabe, Consul General of Nigeria, Atlanta, at the Maiden Workshop of the Nigerian Community Leadership Forum (ACLF) Atlanta, 24th September 2011

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coNsul. GENERAL OIt NIGERTA. ATLANTA. AT TIm
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+ The President and Executive members of the Alliance of
Nigerian Organieations in Georgia (AfiOC),
'F Members, ANOG Board of Directors,
* Top Fxecutives ofANOG Member- Organizations here preserr!
at Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am pleased to be invited to this epoch-making eventn whish I
understand, is the first sf its kind in the history of Alt[OG. It is
therefore a great honour for me to be part of this giant stride, aimed
at fostering closer understanding snd synerry in your organization, as
well as expanding the capacity of the leadership of the t*Iigerian
I
community in the State of Georgia" wish to identiff with the
organizem of this workshop, as it is all about how to improve the
wellbeing of our people through service delivery and collaboration, of
which I and,the Csnsulate are stake holders.
2. I am particularly pleased with the set objectives which this
Forum has set to achieve, arnong which are to build strong link4ges
and working relationships among leadar from different organizations
in the Nigerian community and to create a leverage to dialogue with
the Consulate -
General on relations between her and the community. These
objectives, undoubtedly, are indicative of the clear focus of ANOG
ll--- { -t -

2. and its leadership, and of the organization's vision far the desired
colresion and national mobilization of our peoples asross regional,
political, ethnic, social and religious divides.
3. As we gather at this workshop, I wish to invite us to consider as
a principal concern, the question of how to incressingly diminish ow
affiliations to parochial, sectional identities, which ttrough inalienable,
tend to divide us as a people and waaken our capacity, and move
towards identifying with a single national group where the language
of communication is simply Nigeria. I know that AITtrOG is already on
this eourse, and I can only encourage her to move faster in this
direction.
4- As a Consulateo ws have a responsibility to our nation^als that
aims among other things, to mobilize them for national development.
This is in line with our government's recognition of the huge capacrty
of the human capital that lies in the Diaspora which could be
harnessed f.or national development. The govenrment has been
iustified in this vision over the years, as Nigerian professionals
abroad, have made substantial contribution to the core sectors of the
nation's economic, social and political development. This vision
inforsred the creation of the Nigerian in the Diaspora Organization
(NIDO) by the OBASANJO administration in ?000. The Consulate
therefore seeks to work with organizations like AIttOG which provide
the vehicle for the desired national cohesion.
5. IJ is towards the realiuation of this, that the Consulate has made
it a policy not to relate difectly with organizations that are not
national in charaster, but encourage them to align themselves with
umbrella organizations that could galvanize their collective efforts for
uniry and development. This is what ANOG represents. NIDO also
stands for the same couffe. Ir is hoped that these organizations would
continue a,s partners, to exercise responsible authority in their
respective Ereas of influence for national mobilization.

3. 6. I must not fail to uss this forum to recall my recent directive to
all member-organiuations of ANOG to channel their invitations to
public functionaries of our sounty ttlrough th'e Consulate. This
simple, rtormal protocol is well intendod to engender collaboration
beifrreen the Consulate and the respe*tive Nigerian organizations
towards achieving honourable, responsible and respectable reception
for those frurctionaries. This directive was based on the poor showing
of some organizations whose conduct bear on inadequate liaison with
the csnsulate. This well meaning directive was largely misunderstood,
and interpreted by sorne people as breaching the t:ights of the
organizations, but this was so, largely due to lack of understanding of
diplcmatic etiquette, the social and political values of such public
functionaries and the damage to national image th,at could follow any
wrong handling of their visit.
7 - I urge this workshop to consider the inevitable partnership
between the Consulate and the Nigerian community, and the
responsibility of the Consulate as an extension of our national
government which is here to senre and to guide sur people and their
respective organizatisns to also $srire. I, ff the Consul General, will
affempa to coord"inate our collective efforJs towards our collective
vision, and I hope that you will parhrer with us in this endeavour.
L Finally, I
wflIrt ta commend you for the memorable
commefforation of our country's 50tr independence anniversary in
2010, the effective interface with the Consulateo assistaace to our
nationals and above all, creating the awat$ness of the desired
collective efforts towards national uffi gnd development. I urge you
to help with the Consulateos wor-k by coming up with any useful
discussions that could maks the Consulate more efFective. I charge
you to use the wide nenvork of your organization to affempt a
compilation of information on our nationals in your coysrage arcas.
I thank you for inviting me snd I wish you fruitful doliberations.

4. Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Atlanta
?4th Septemher, 201l.