By Leonard Madu
On September 5-7, 2013, all roads will lead to Rockville, Maryland as the International Association of African Non Governmental Organizations holds its annual conference. Thousands of delegates from the United States, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean will attend conference to be held at the Hilton Hotel. The theme of the conference is “Empowering NGOS Through Awareness in the Age of Globalization.” The International Association of African NGOS is an organization whose mission is to create global awareness for member Ngos through networking and to assist member NGOS in enhancing their programs and activities. They also seek to partner NGOS and businesses in the United States with those in developing countries.
The conference seeks to bring together individuals from different races, gender and ethnicity to discuss issues ranging from capacity building for NGOS, empowering NGOS with technology and other developmental issues in developing countries. It will provide a forum where women and men from all over the world will meet and interact with government, diplomatic and business leaders from various countries, as well as from our local governments and citizenry from Maryland, DC and Virginia areas. It will also be a place where U.S policy makers and their foreign counterparts, as well as representatives of international agencies, can discuss their current initiatives as they relate to private sector initiatives. In short, it is a place for effective networking, building coalitions, alliances and partnerships, which can lead to mutually beneficial profitable business and personal relationships.
An investment forum which will bring together major investors, political leaders and business persons will be one of the highlights of the conference. “This is a conference designed to further empower NGOS and to strengthen educational, and commercial ties between the United States and developing countries”, says Joyce Halliday, Executive Director of the International Association of African Non Governmental Organizations. “So far the response has been extremely positive.”. Experiences of U.S. NGOS and businesses working in developing countries will also be discussed. This is a must attend conference for those seeking to do build coalitions and alliances that will enhance their developmental objectives and priorities. Exhibition booths will also be available for purchase.
Several local and international governmental and non governmental agencies will be represented at the conference, including universities, diplomatic missions, pharmaceutical companies, churches, healthcare institutions, investment firms, etc. Some of the distinguished speakers and participants will include, Mayor Vincent Gray of Washington, DC, who will welcome the delegates to the conference, Mr. Franklin Moore, Deputy Administrator of USAID, Washington, DC, Dr. Sarah Jibril, Special Adviser to the president of Nigeria on ethics and values, Abuja, Nigeria, Ms. Michelle Kato, Deputy Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, Ms. Seema Aziz, President of CARE PAKISTAN, Islamabad, Pakistan, Dr. Hernan Dimitriv Forzani, President, Center for Promotion and Development of NGOS, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Mr. Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General, CIVISCUS, Pretoria, South Africa, Dr. Elsie Okobi, Professor of Library and Information Science, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut, Dr. Ijeoma Otigbua, Professor and Chair, Dept of Biology, Physical Education and Health Sciences, Montgomery College, Germantown, Maryland and special Adviser to President Obama’s task force on HIV/Aids, Dr. Agorom Dike, Chairman, African Caribbean Christian Leadership Coalition, Washington, DC, Ms. Denise Jackson, President and CEO, LDJ Solutions, Washington, DC, Dr. Leonard Madu, President of the African Caribbean Institute and African Chamber of Commerce of Nashville, TN, Mr. William Burns, Director of Communications, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Annapolis, Maryland, Ms. Joyce Halliday, Executive Director, International Assiciation of African NGOS, Silver Spring, Maryland. President Joyce Banda of Malawi and several First Ladies and Governors are also expected to attend.
A multicultural awards banquet and extravaganza will bring the conference to a close.
