Nigeria is a sovereign country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Its southern coast is on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. The United Nations estimates that the population is slightly under 200 million. Nigeria is filled with an abundant supply of natural resources, and the economy depends primarily on petroleum, mining, agriculture, and other services.
Nigeria is the 12th largest petroleum producer in the world and the 8th largest exporter and has the 10th largest proven reserves. Petroleum plays a large role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 40% of GDP and 80% of Government earnings. In addition to its petroleum resources, Nigeria also has a wide array of underexploited mineral resources, including natural gas, coal, bauxite, tantalite, gold, tin, iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead, and zinc. Despite huge deposits of these natural resources, the mining industry in Nigeria is still in its infancy.
Yet, one would think that with these resources, life will be easier, and jobs would be readily available. That is far from the truth simply because of the way things operate. Cronyism, corruption, and greediness are the order of the day. Despite the numerous intellectuals and massive human capital potentials in the country, effective leadership continues to lack. Families are left to rot in poverty without a government to turn to for assistance. Many students with brilliant minds are left to turn to fraud and crime to survive. Vocational/ skills training lack any serious government funding or commitment. Politicians and well-connected individuals ward off their estates with high fences and police protection while the rest of the citizenry are left to the mercy of the elements.
Traditionally, education has been at the heart of the Nigerian community’s successes all over the world. Most families in Nigeria value education not only because it liberates one from poverty but also because it can take one to the far reaches of the globe. At many Nigerian family homes in the US, you can’t throw a stone without hitting someone with at least a master’s degree. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, nurses, professors permeate — most family members are highly educated and professionally successful. Unfortunately, these individual successes are not representative of the general population in Nigeria.
Nonprofit organizations in Nigeria have been actively engaged in uplifting standards of living. Many corporate business entities are increasingly engaging in philanthropy through their corporate social responsibility programs. Through the years, millions of people have benefitted from healthcare through foreign medical missions and support with skills training and education. Education changes everything. It is not only life-transforming but enables access to new opportunities. Education affects all areas of life – from health to standard of living.
CAN Obiejemba Family Foundation needs your generous financial support to continue helping individuals advance themselves through scholarships, tuition assistance, payment for skills/ vocational training, grants to start up small businesses in welding, trading, agriculture, plumbing, craftsmanship, tailoring, baking, automobile/ motorcycle repairs, and other small local businesses.
Thank you for your financial support.