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AFRICA DAY CELEBRATION 2012
0 Comments | Posted by Chief Tunde Adetunji in Africa Day Celebration, Foundation Press Release
Come Join The Celebration …”AFRICA MATTERS”
Be Apart Of History … “AFRICA IS THE FUTURE”
SAVE THE DATE
AFRICA MATTERS, AFRICA IS THE FUTURE .Greetings,
MONDAY, 16 APRIL 2012 18:51
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR
Chief Tunde greets African Union Chairman Dr. Jean Ping and United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Chief Tunde Adetunji is all set once again to present the 2012 Africa Day Celebration in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This will be the sixth annual Africa Day celebration sponsored by the Africa Heritage Foundation under the leadership of Chief Tunde, which he is so respectfully called by his associates and friends. The annual Africa Day Celebration will take place on May 25-26. It is the grassroots festive event to inform, acknowledge and promote worldwide potential business opportunities, ideas and values of Africa as a continent of possibilities to the global community.
Africa Day in Atlanta is also about embracing and celebrating the culture and heritage of Africa and it serves to facilitate networking opportunities. It is an official proclamation and resolution that “Africa Matters and Africa is the Future”. This has been the mantra of Chief Tunde that he has been so tirelessly proclaiming and working to promote for almost twenty years now.
Chief Tunde believes that Atlanta will be the United States’ Gateway to Africa in terms of business, educational opportunities and also for the fostering of social and cultural relationships. “The potential is here in Atlanta and it is already beginning to happen”, says Chief Tunde. Last year during Africa day in Atlanta, the city council of Atlanta offered a proclamation signed by all of its members praising the efforts of the foundation and acknowledging future opportunities in Africa.
Atlanta’s Africa Day Celebration has been endorsed by the African Union (AU) Commission’s Chairperson the Honorable Dr. Jean Ping. Just before Africa Day 2011, he visited Atlanta at an invitation arranged and coordinated by Chief Tunde. Accompanied by a high level delegation, including his chief of staff, the AU ambassador to the US and the director of the AU’s Diaspora programme. Dr. Ping’s historical, official visit represented an important milestone in the history of the AU’s Diaspora Initiative and its relations with the State of Georgia and the city of Atlanta.
Chief Tunde and Governor Nathan Deal (ct) with other Georgia officials
While in Atlanta Dr. Ping was a guest on Chief Tunde’s television show Africa Heritage Diaspora TV, where he spoke about the important role that the African Union has given to the Diaspora as a part of the renaissance project aligning Africa with the global Diaspora. Dr. Ping saw the future as “one in which Africa stands tall among its peers in the international community”. Dr. Ping then pinned a gold pendant on Chief Tunde declaring him an African Cultural Ambassador. Dr. Ping congratulated Chief Tunde for his untiring commitment to promoting strong and positive ties between the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the African Union and the African continent.
Through the Africa Heritage Foundation and Africa Day in Atlanta, Chief Tunde’s aim is to create an environment where African nations’ interests and Georgia’s interests can be discussed among power brokers and political leaders. He wants the city of Atlanta to be the platform to explore successful ways to better connect businesses and people between African nations and the United States of America. Chief Tunde believes that as Atlanta becomes the gateway to Africa, it is also the place to facilitate further discussions about the Diaspora becoming the sixth region of Africa.
During Black History Month, Chief Tunde, in conjunction with Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) presented “Celebrate Africa: Journey through the Ages”. This was a celebration of African heritage that included visual exhibitions, lectures, electronic presentations and a reception. This exhibition which made its debut during the 1996 Olympics, is traveling to various institutions in the US, Brazil and Canada detailing the splendor and significance of African culture through art exhibits, archeology and symposiums. Chief Tunde Adetunji believes that the arts consistently express and communicate the essence of African culture and brilliance.
In 2010, SPCU signed a formal agreement with the Africa Heritage Foundation (AHF) to establish the mission of building bridges between the 55 nations of the Africa and the United States. A goal of this agreement includes the creation of a network of universities on both continents. With more than 26 African nations represented in the SPSU’s student body, it is an ideal place for AHF to have SPCU as the base for such a project. Chief Tunde is continuously traveling to universities around the Americas with his message of “Africa Matters”, where he lectures and exhibits aspects of African culture and heritage during his visits. “Having a foundation at SPSU has helped to highlight SPSU as a very significant university in the US and also to the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN)”, says Chief Tunde, who has favorable relationships with officials from these organizations.
Primary objectives of Africa Day in Atlanta include 1) developing international partnerships, 2) supporting the emergence of private sectors in Africa and USA, 3) promoting direct foreign investment in Africa, and 4) leveraging the imbalances in Africa’s growing economy. Benefits of the celebration are likely to include investments to help eradicate poverty. Investment opportunities can contribute to changing the political and economic image of Africa, and allow access to the billions of dollars the U.S. Government has committed to trade capacity building activities; networking and subcontracting opportunities.
Chief Tunde says that Africa is a continent of many possibilities. “In fact, it is the hub of the world economic propensity and posterity, but somehow still remains the missing link in the global economy”. He goes on to say that in the last ten years, Africa has made significant progress in social and economic development, including a strong average growth rate in many countries and an improved political and social environment. “Even though there are still challenges, African nations are determined to change things for the better.
Chief Tunde celebrates Africa Day in Atlanta 2011.
“Many African governments and societies, in collaboration with the international community are pressing towards achieving the development targets set in the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including advances in health, literacy, equality and nutrition”, explains Chief Tunde.
He goes on to say that there is a renewed commitment by the African governments to work together to transform the continent for the better. “Their joint efforts are coordinated and harmonized through the African Union (AU). We at the Africa Heritage Foundation support these efforts”, says Chief Tunde. “That’s why we have Africa Day in Atlanta. We are determined to show the world that Africa Matters and Africa is the Future” ! For more information, visit www.AfricaHeritageFoundation.org
About Chief Tunde Adetunji
Chief Tunde Adetunji is a visionary, an idealist, a realist, and a prince, born to a royal family in Nigeria. Chief Adetunji is the African Cultural Ambassador, CEO, and founder of the Africa Heritage Foundation, Africa World Museum & Center, Africa Day in Atlanta and the Africa Heritage Diaspora TV. An expert on African Affairs, he is a renown presenter, a master communicator, and a motivational speaker. He was one of African Business Journal’s 100 Most Influential Multicultural Business Leaders in 2010. He travels to universities all over the United States and abroad promoting the theme “Africa Matters and Africa is the Future” and “Bridging the Gap and Building the Bridge between Africa and the Diaspora”. Chief Tunde’s versatility and expertise as an art historian, curator, anthropologist, journalist and lecturer has made him a foremost dignitary on Africa and the African Diaspora.
About Africa Heritage Foundation
Founded by Chief Tunde Adetunji in 1996, the Africa Heritage Foundation’s (AHF) mission includes creating an environment where the nations in Africa and the State of Georgia can develop opportunities and new ventures in business, technology, resources, education and culture to the mutual benefit of each other. AHF seeks to provide a platform for discussion amongst business, industry and civic leaders to learn about and identify mutual business, educational and cultural opportunities that can be developed into successful ventures and relationships for the mutual benefit of Georgia, Atlanta and the entire African Nation. AHF has a long range goal of this model being an example for the entire United States’ relationship with Africa.
With the theme “Africa Matters, Africa is the Future,” other goals of AHF include Atlanta being a Gateway to Africa and the key place to further discussions of the worldwide Diaspora as the sixth region of the African continent. A goal AHF has set is for the African Village capital project to be located in Atlanta which would include physical space for knowledge acquisition, a high-powered think tank and a virtual tour of the unique cultures of the regions of Africa. The slogan of AHF is “Bridging the Gap, Building the Bridge.”
Top Photo: Chief Tunde greets African Union Chairman Dr. Jean Ping and United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Center photo: Chief Tunde and Governor Nathan Deal (ct) with other Georgia officials. Bottom photo: Chief Tunde celebrates Africa Day in Atlanta 2011.
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Atlanta and Georgia Look to Strengthen Ties with Africa
0 Comments | Posted by admin in Foundation Press Release
Atlanta City Council recognized on June 4 the importance of building business relationships between Africa and Atlanta during a ceremony on the steps of the Georgia Capitol that drew more than 40 local officials and supporters.
As part of the fifth annual Africa Day celebration, sponsored by the Africa Heritage Foundation, the council offered a proclamation signed by all its members praising the efforts of the foundation and acknowledging future opportunities on the continent.
Under the leadership of chairman and CEO, Tunde Adetunji, the foundation organizes the celebration every year to inform people on business opportunities in Africa.
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Dr. Jean Ping Visits Atlanta – Event Make History
0 Comments | Posted by admin in Event Makes History, Foundation Projects
Press Release
” AFRICA MATTERS, AFRICA IS THE FUTURE “
The African Union Chairperson, Dr. Jean Ping, visits Atlanta, Georgia, at the invitation of the Africa Heritage Foundation. The visit is an important milestone for the Africa Diaspora community, a foundation step for Atlanta to tap into opportunities in Africa and the continent’s potentials.
President, Robert Michael Franklin presents the Presidentail Award to H.E. Dr. Jean Ping, Chairman of African Union Commission
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission began his second official visit to the United States with a two-day visit to Atlanta, Georgia, from 16-18 April 2011. He was accompanied by a high level delegation, including his Chief of Staff, the AU Ambassador to the US and the Director of the AU’s Diaspora Programme, amongst others. The visit, which was arranged and coordinated by the Africa Heritage Foundation under the Leadership of Chief Tunde Adetunji, represented an important milestone in the history of the AU’s Diaspora Initiative and its relations with the State of Georgia in general and the city of Atlanta in particular.
The visit commenced on Sunday, 17 April 2011 with a visit to the Martin Luther King Centre where Dr. Ping was received by the CEO, Martin Luther King III. Mr. King observed that he saw the visit as a memorial to his father, the late Martin Luther King Jr. and the vision of freedom, liberty and social justice that his father espoused. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission concurred with this view. Significantly therefore, Dr. Ping commended the doctrine of non-violence that Mr. King preached as an inspirational message that was guiding the African Union in its approach towards conflict management and resolution and peacemaking and peace building on the continent.
Subsequently, the Chairperson attended a Church service at the new site of the Ebenezer Baptist Church that Martin Luther King Jr. and his father had served as pastors. In the course of that service, he addressed the faithful on the Martin Luther King legacy and the efforts of the African Union to foster peace and development in Africa and reach out to its Diaspora population. In the aftermath of the Church Service, the Staff of the King Centre led the African Union delegation on a tour of the premises and facilities.
Later that evening, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission attended a reception organised in his honor by the Africa Heritage Foundation where he received a resolution from Senator Gonzalez James on behalf of the Georgia Senate and a proclamation by Atlanta Council Member, Michael Bond, on behalf of the City Council. The CEO of Africa heritage foundation Chief Tunde Adetunji whose visionary project of bridging the gap and building the bridge established since 1996 Olympic proclaimed and presented the award of honorary citizenship of Georgia on behalf of the secretary of state of Georgia, Brian P. Kemp, to the Chairperson Jean Ping and the AU permanent representative to USA, Honorable Ambassador Amina Salum Ali.
On 18th April 2011, the visit resumed with a tour of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Dr. Ping was conducted round the facility and had critical discussions with the staff of the CDC on the work of the Centre and its usefulness to and applicability for Africa. The visit underscored the need for cooperation, coordination and joint ventures to combat and prevent the spread of diseases in Africa and to promote appropriate public health policies and practices.
Following this, Chairperson Ping, on special invitation, organised by the host, Africa Heritage Foundation, addressed a session of the Atlanta City Council, in which he laid emphasis on the investment opportunities in Africa and how the program of cooperation between the city of Atlanta , the entire state of Georgia and Africa can take advantage of this for the mutual benefit of both parties. He urged the need to follow-up quickly on the visit with practical actions. Dr. Ping was also a special guest on Africa Heritage Radio and TV show at Clark Atlanta University where he focused on the important role assigned to the African Diaspora in the AU agenda and how the Diaspora can seize this opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development and integration mission of the Africa continent, and USA . He seize the opportunity to commission and endorse officially the decade long visionary initiative of the Africa Heritage Foundation in Atlanta Georgia.
The main highlight of the visit was a keynote address by Dr. Jean Ping, to Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia. In his address entitled “The future of the African Continent and the African Union”, the Chairperson placed the development of the African Union in clear perspective along a time continuum of the past, present and future. He began with an explanation of how and why the Union came into being through transformation of the predecessor organization, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), its design, institutional framework and the difficulties and challenges that it confronted, into the AU, and how the AU is dealing with them, particularly, its peace and security agenda, financing and constraints arising from the wider international environment.
Again, he underlined the important role that the African Union has given to the Diaspora in this renaissance project and align it to the vision that Africa wishes for its future. He saw that future as “one in which Africa stands tall among its peers in the international community. It will be one where affairs of the world are decided in Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, Bangui and Nairobi rather than in Washington, Moscow, Peking and London. It will be one in which our children are coming back home in droves to take advantage of the benefits of the motherland rather than becoming boat people and engaging in hazardous journeys to seek fake promises in Europe and the West… Our purpose is renaissance”.
Very often, in the course of his remark, Dr. Ping complimented the Africa Heritage Foundation and the leadership of Chief Tunde Adetunji, for ensuring the success of the visit. The compliment was also echoed by others, including the City Council and Morehouse College, where Chief Tunde Adetunji was also presented with commendations and awards for promoting and projecting positive mission and goal of AU agenda in the USA , and as well playing leadership role in arranging the meetings in particular, and more importantly for his untiring commitment to promoting strong and positive ties between the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the African Union and the African continent.
The visit of the AU Chairperson is an endorsement of the Africa Heritage Foundation serious undertaken and numerous initiatives to broaden the horizon of USA Economic prospects towards sustainable development in Africa, Technology transfer, Human resources and Capacity building,Relocation and establishment of new businesses to the state of Georgia, opening of more consular operation in Atlanta ,increase of both passengers air and sea cargoes to Georgia through the airport and seaport of Savannah, international student and study abroad programme,establishment of USAFRICA business Expo, Establishment of Radio and T.V to bridge the gap of information and communication,Establishment of Library system for research and quest of Africa studies, promotion of both Eco and Cultural tourism , development of sports, sporting activities and training,Establishment of Africa village for the promotion of tourism and creation of jobs and finally established Atlanta and the state of Georgia as the gateway of Africa potentials and business opportunity’s to USA ,
Chief Tunde Adetunji, Africa Heritage Foundation, Inc., 145 Nassau Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA Tel: +1 404 577 7011
Mobile: +1 678 508 5240 Website: www.africaheritagefoundation.org or www.usafricaproject.org
Email: africaheritagefoundation@gmail.com/ chieftun@gmail.com
Jim Maddox, Michael Julian Bond, President Ceasar C. Mitchell, His Excellency Dr. Jean Ping, Mayor Kasim Reed, CEO Chief Adetunji Tunde
Chairman of the Commission for the African Union, Dr. Jean Ping receives the Presidential Award from the Moorehouse College
