By Enyeribe Ejiogu
The first love and passion of Dr. Njideka Nwapa-Ibuaka is teaching and counseling. She holds a 2011 doctoral degree of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, USA; a master’s degree in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations, International Law and Diplomacy from St. John’s University, New York in 1996. Her Bachelor’s degree was obtained in 1988 from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and University of Dar-es-salaam Tanzania in Linguistics and Swahili Language.
Currently teaching Texas and USA Government at Lonestar Community College, Dr. Nwapa-Ibuaka is a Principal Consultant and Chief Executive of New Generation Consulting Resource Solutions (NGCRS), a US firm which has a branch office in Nigeria, with interest in Agriculture and Agribusiness and a focus on export of commodities and processed agroproducts.
As a Nigerian in the Diaspora, what are your impressions about the situation of the country in the one year since the present administration came into office?
My observation is that there is deep hunger in the land. The difficulties that exist have to do with lack of fuel, unemployment, the cash crunch in society, low minimum wage for workers, no governmental action against price gouging. The state government ought to protect consumers from this illegal practice, but they do not.
So, in the one year since the new administration came to power, there has been extreme hardship and for the first time, I would say that even the upper middle class are being forced to cut back on purchases and have begun to ration electricity use in their homes.
In the late 1990s, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted by former President Bill Clinton, to boost African non-oil exports to the United States. Before that in 1992, there was an effort to hold the Festival of Nigeria Arts and Culture, FESNAC-USA, in Houston, Texas, to promote the economic opportunities offered by AGOA. Today, there is a huge population of Nigerians in the United States. One would expect them to eat semi-processed Nigerian foods and thereby demonstrate their connection to the country. Is that the case?
Yes, many Nigerians in the US do eat semi-processed Nigerian foods. The foods are imported from Nigeria or made locally from imported ingredients. There are several African markets that cater to the needs of Nigerians in the Diaspora. A major hub for African foods in the United States is Houston, Texas where there is a large population of Nigerians. You can find spices and soup thickners such as Ogbono, Egusi as well as dried or sometimes fresh vegetables like Oha and Ewedu etc. You must have heard of the famous Aju Mbaise, which mothers of Nigerian women use to prepare the traditional meal for a woman that just gave birth, which helps the abdomen of the woman to go down within a short time and return to normal size after delivery.
Are there Nigerian-owned businesses that import Nigerian foodstuff into the US and thereby enable the country earn foreign exchange and boost the country’s GDP?
Yes, there are Nigerian-owned businesses that import Nigerian foodstuff into the USA, contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and boosting Nigeria’s GDP. These businesses play a significant role in promoting Nigerian cuisine and meeting the demand for Nigerian foods among the Nigerian Diaspora and others who are interested in delicious Nigerian cuisine.
By importing foodstuff from Nigeria, these businesses not only provide access to traditional ingredients and products but also create economic opportunities and stimulate trade between the two countries. This contributes to Nigeria’s export revenue and overall economic growth.
What would you say are the major regulatory bottlenecks that Nigerians face when it comes to exporting foodstuff to Nigerians in America?
Exporting foodstuff from Nigeria to America attracts several major regulatory bottlenecks. These bottlenecks include:
Food Safety Regulations: The United States has strict regulations on food safety and quality. Nigerian exporters need to comply with these regulations, which include proper labeling, packaging, and adherence to food safety standards.
Import Restrictions: The US government imposes restrictions on certain food products, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, due to concerns about pests and diseases. Nigerian exporters need to navigate these import restrictions and obtain the necessary permits and certifications.
Documentation and Certification: Exporting foodstuff to the U.S. requires various documentation and certifications, such as Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. Ensuring that all the required paperwork is in order can be a time-consuming and complex process.
Transportation and Logistics: Exporting foodstuff involves logistical challenges, including finding reliable transportation options, ensuring proper storage and handling of perishable goods, and complying with shipping regulations.
Customs Clearance: Nigerian exporters need to navigate the US Customs clearance process in both Nigeria and the US. This involves providing accurate and complete Customs documentation, paying applicable duties and taxes, and meeting Customs requirements. Obtaining these documents in Nigeria could be even more of an ordeal as NAFDAC (National Food & Drugs Administration and Control. does not make it easy at all to obtain the proper documents needed to proceed. Given all these factors, it is clear that Nigerian exporters may experience great difficulties when exporting food to America. Therefore, they must stay updated on the regulations, seek assistance from relevant government agencies, and work with experienced logistics partners to overcome these hurdles.
There is a growing clamour for the Igbo to intensify the deployment of the Igbo concept of “Aku Ruo Ulo, Obodo Emepee” to actively invest their resources in the Southeast states rather than developing other places where they are currently sojourning. What is your view?
The Igbo understand the concept of development and if encouraged will embark on projects and systems that would ensure that the entire southeast can compete with any part of the developed world.
Any nation that is serious about development must embark on these issues: build infrastructure, keep people out of poverty, create employment, provide clean and affordable energy (using solar). The whole and simple truth is that the past and present administrations in the Nigeria have failed to undertake these projects that will show that they are serious about developing the people and the nation.
The Southeast has been challenged by insecurity. In the past some communities in Igbo land used to collect levies for various projects, including security. It has been suggested that people in communities and their relations in the Diaspora should revive the practice of collecting security levies to support, train and equip able young men to provide a layer of security protection under the coordination of the security services. What is your view?
Reviving the practice of collecting security levies to support local security initiatives can be a potential solution to address the insecurity challenges in the Southeast. This practice worked in the past and may work today as well. The idea behind it is to empower the community and provide them with resources to train and equip the young men to contribute to the security efforts. However, it is important to consider the legal and logistical aspects of such a practice, as well as ensuring proper coordination with existing security services to avoid any conflicts or duplication of efforts. The Southeastern leaders must collaborate efforts with existing government in order not to duplicate efforts or even cause mayhem. Ultimately, the decision should be made based on the specific needs and context of the communities involved.
Obviously, reviving the practice will have several benefits:
1.Increased sense of community ownership: By imposing security levies, community members can actively contribute and participate in addressing their own security concerns. This fosters a sense of accountability, as residents become directly involved in providing resources for their own protection.
2. Enabling education initiatives: The collected levies can provide additional financial resources to educate the youth while also supporting security initiatives. This can help in providing leadership training thereby equipping able young men and women to become leaders and community builders and yet provide an added layer of security protection, enhancing the overall security capabilities of the community.
3. Enhanced collaboration with security services: Coordinating with existing security services can ensure effective collaboration and information sharing. This can lead to improved intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and response to security threats.
It is important to note that the actual benefits may vary depending on the specific implementation, community dynamics, and coordination with existing security services.
Economic development experts have established that SMEs cumulatively employ more workers than the large corporates. Again, it is known that Nigerians in the Diaspora remit about US$20 billion back home for various purposes (weddings, burials, tuition, healthcare, real estate projects, gifts, etc). How would you respond to an invitation by reputable Nigerian financial institutions to invest in a managed, dollar-denominated fund established for the sole purpose of funding suitably qualified SMEs in the Southeast, which will in turn employ qualified youths under the One Destiny, Shared Prosperity Initiative?
Investing in a managed, dollar-denominated fund established for the purpose of funding suitably qualified SMEs in the Southeast is a welcome initiative. It has verifiable economic growth and job creation and the social impact cannot be overemphasized. The One Destiny, Shared Prosperity Initiative aims to empower qualified youths by providing them with employment opportunities. By investing in this initiative, you can contribute to the social and economic development of the Southeast region of Nigeria. Supporting SMEs can rapidly contribute to the economic development of the Southeast. This fund will help to foster entrepreneurship which in turn will create employment opportunities amongst the people, especially the youth. By investing in a fund aligned with this initiative, you can contribute to the broader goal of fostering economic inclusivity and social development in Nigeria.
What are the major activities of New Resources Consulting Group and what impact is it making in Nigeria?
I started New Generation Consulting Resources and Solutions several years ago with the aim of helping individuals and organizations develop their leadership skills, enhance their performance, and achieve their goals. We entered the Nigeria Oil and Gas space and have conducted several training courses here in Nigeria and elsewhere with such Nigeria organizations like NNPC Limited (formerly Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation), Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, among other reputable organizations.
Our programmes focus on enhancing leadership skills and abilities through training sessions, workshops, and coaching. They help individuals develop self-awareness, improve communication skills, and learn effective leadership strategies.
We organize team-building activities and workshops that promote collaboration, trust, and effective teamwork. These initiatives help improve relationships within teams and enhance overall team performance.
Our mission is to provide innovative and tailored leadership training solutions that empower individuals and organizations to thrive in the ever-changing business landscape. We aim to equip our clients with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to lead with confidence, adaptability, and integrity, fostering a new generation of effective and inspiring leaders.
The main goal of our leadership training solutions is to enable individuals to develop and enhance their leadership skills, knowledge, and capabilities. By offering comprehensive and customized training programmes, we aim to equip leaders with the tools and strategies they need to effectively navigate challenges, inspire their teams, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable success. Our goal is to empower leaders to create positive and impactful change within their organizations and make a difference in the world.
The comprehensive and customized training programmes aim to provide leaders with a range of skills, knowledge, and strategies to enhance their leadership capabilities. These programmes are designed to address the specific needs and challenges of each individual or organization, ensuring that the training is relevant, practical, and impactful.