US embassy cable - 04LAGOS1504

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 001504 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE PLS PASS TO AF/PD, AF/W, ECA/A/E/AF, AFSI/EX 
ABUJA FOR CPAO,CAO 
ACCRA PLS PASS TO REAC KETEKU 
AID PLS PASS TO SARAH MOTEN AFR/SD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, NI 
SUBJECT:  REMEMBERING DR. RALPH J. BUNCHE 
 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  In a fitting tribute to the late Dr. 
Ralph Johnson Bunche, Nobel Peace Prize winner and 
distinguished African-American diplomat, the Public 
Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, 
recently concluded our yearlong program commemorating 
the 100th anniversary of his birth.  Initiated in 2003, 
the program reached over 1,400 Nigerians in 4 states 
We employed this program to advance two key Mission 
Performance Plan (MPP) goals - promoting democratic 
practices and institutions and encouraging peaceful 
conflict resolution.  Kudos for our colleagues in the 
Graphics Department of the  Shultz Center; they 
provided an excellent Bunche exhibit which we 
incorporated into our successful outreach efforts. 
Please visit our website at 
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov for additional program 
coverage. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) Joining people the world over, our yearlong 
Bunche tribute recognized the life and legacy of a 
great American statesman.  As part of this initiative, 
PAS Lagos organized 4 events to pay homage to the life, 
work, vision, and times of Bunche.  These events took 
place at the following locations: 
 
  A) IWO: at Bowen University (7/24/03) 
  B)   LAGOS: at Nigerian Institute of International 
     Affairs (10/30/2003) 
C)   ENUGU: at Community Resource Center  (2/20/04) 
D)   ABEOKUTA: at Southwest Resource Center (6/30/04). 
 
3.   (U) A summary of the full program follows. 
 
A) IWO: BOWEN UNIVERSITY, JULY 30, 2003 
 
On Thursday July 24, 2003, the first PAS Lagos 
centenary celebration of Bunche, drew an audience of 
over 800 people to Bowen University, one of Nigeria's 
crop of new private institutions. The audience included 
a high-level delegation of Nigerian public officials, 
Vice Chancellors, Rectors, faculty, students, from 
surrounding institutions in southwest Nigeria, to the 
semi-rural town of Iwo, Osun State.  Held in a 
predominantly Muslim area, the event also hosted the 
traditional Muslim leader of the town, the Oluwo of 
Iwo, and his council members. 
 
The program included a screening of the documentary 
film Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey. We commissioned 
a paper by Professor Alaba Ogunsanwo of the Political 
Science Department, University of Lagos.  Ogunsanwo 
focused on Bunche's exemplary life of public service; 
the Lagos PAO offered remarks on Bunche's legacy from 
the American perspective. 
 
COMMENT: Within Nigeria's growing democracy, private 
universities are seen as representing a renaissance of 
quality education in the country.  PAS Lagos is 
enthusiastic about collaborative events with private 
universities in Nigeria, which are a critical component 
of our strategy to advance US interests in Nigeria 
particularly in supporting the democratic dispensation. 
 
B) LAGOS: NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, 
OCTOBER 24, 2003 
 
Held on United Nations Day at the prestigious Nigerian 
Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), our second 
program reached Nigerians from all walks of life - the 
diplomatic corps, academics, civic and business 
leaders, among others.  The program also featured a 
roundtable discussion Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu chaired 
the discussion and former Minister of Education, 
Professor Babs Fafunwa, was our keynote speaker. 
Professor Fafunwa served with Dr. Bunche at the United 
Nations.  In an effort to reach younger, wider 
audiences in Nigeria, more than 100 students attended 
the program from 7 Lagos area schools. 
 
Underscoring the importance of the tribute, Dr. Joy U. 
Ogwu, NIIA Director-General flew in from the UN General 
Assembly to participate in the program.  Mr. Finjap 
Njinga, Director of the United Nations Information 
Center, Lagos, read a statement commemorating the work 
of Bunche by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. 
Annan. 
 
The panel presentation paid tribute to the late Dr. 
Bunche's legacy as an international diplomat and 
statesman, and included first-hand stories of work with 
Bunche while he was at the United Nations. 
Specifically, Bunche was noted for his tireless work on 
behalf of negotiating an armistice agreement between 
Israel and four Arab neighbors, in addition to his 
promotion of decolonization on the African continent in 
the 1950s and 1960s. 
 
RESULTS:  The event drew 500 people, a large diverse 
audience of diplomats, educators, local government 
officials and students -- many of who had not heard of 
Dr. Bunche prior to the event.  Numerous local media 
outlets were present, which resulted in coverage in 
Lagos-area newspapers and on Lagos-area radio 
stations.. The CG, PAO and CAO each received comments 
from participants, inquiring about Bunche, his legacy, 
and most importantly his role in shaping international 
policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
 
ENUGU: COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, FEBRUARY 20, 2004 
 
Representatives from the Lagos PAS provided a 
presentation at the Enugu Community Resource Center 
(CRC) celebrating the life and contributions of Dr. 
Bunche. The program included a PowerPoint presentation 
on prominent African Americans, a documentary on the 
career and life of Dr. Bunche, a poster show of Dr. 
Bunche, a robust question and answer session, and a 
closing reception. Approximately 60 contacts, including 
prominent Nigerian author Cyprian Ekwensi and former 
governor of Enugu State Chief C. C. Onoh, were in 
attendance. 
 
RESULTS: PAS used its convening power to draw prominent 
individuals to the program.  In so doing, we helped to 
put the Enugu Community Resource Center on the map. 
Several of our contacts marveled at the USG-supplied 
technology center and promised to return to the Enugu 
CRC. During a fascinating question and answer session, 
issues discussed included the current state of 
Nigeria's educational system, approaches to reversing 
Nigeria's brain-drain, ways in which to strengthen the 
Nigerian film industry, and how Enugu can benefit from 
future U.S. programming. Participants were most 
appreciative of our efforts and urged us to provide 
additional programs to Enugu State. 
 
D) ABEOKUTA: SOUTHWEST RESOURCE CENTER, JUNE 30, 2004 
 
On Wednesday, June 30, the Abeokuta Southwest Resource 
Center (SRC), in collaboration with PAS hosted the 
final commemorative program to honor the life and times 
of Dr. Bunche.  Over 100 guests filled the center's 
auditorium to participate in the program, the final PAS 
tribute to this remarkable man.  The program honored 
Bunche with an educational poster show, the screening 
of the documentary about his life and work. Center 
Director Tunde Kuku and Lagos PAO offered brief 
remarks. The Anthill Arts Foundation of Lagos provided 
a colorful display of artwork to honor Bunche.  This 
artwork was also done to mark the recent observance of 
the International Day of the African Child. 
 
RESULTS: Guests commented on the educational nature of 
the program, and requested additional programs be 
hosted by the Abeokuta SRC.  Program participants 
included the Honorable Commissioner for Information, 
Ogun State, Mr. Miran Malaolu, as well as assembled 
dignitaries from local colleges and universities. 
Media presence was also strong, and included reporters 
from This Day, New Age, Punch, Vanguard, NTA, O.G.T.V, 
Daily Independent, Comet, Champion Newspapers, Ogun 
State Broadcasting, National Interest Newspapers, 
Tribune, and Daily Times. 
 
4. (U) COMMENT:  The yearlong Bunche program reached 
diverse Nigerian audiences, in a number of different 
geographical locations and in unique settings: 
 
  A)   We reached over 1,400 total participants including 
     Christians, Muslims and traditional practitioners. 
B)   Strong media coverage attained. 
C)   Target audiences included youth groups, secondary 
and university students, school administrators, civic 
leaders, local government officials and well-known 
cultural icons. 
D)   Events planned in 4 different cities across 
Nigeria's south/east and south/west geopolitical zones. 
E)   The Enugu CRC and Abeokuta SRC are both planned to 
become American Corners networks in Nigeria in FY 2005. 
In addition, we have provided the CRC Enugu with a 
collection of educational advising texts; we plan to 
furnish the Southwest Resource Center in Abeokuta with 
a set as well. Through working with both groups, PAS 
Lagos established broad relationships that will in turn 
enhance future programs. 
 
5. (U) COMMENT: We are particularly appreciative of the 
support we received from the Shultz Center's Graphics 
Department; they developed a poster exhibit featuring 
Dr. Bunche and readily shared their files with us.  We 
were able to incorporate their work into our outreach 
efforts. 
 
 
6. (U) CONCLUSION:  The PAS Lagos Ralph J. Bunche year- 
long commemorative program was highly successful at 
achieving its core objective of educating Nigerians 
about he life and times, social and political impact of 
the famous African-American statesman. In addition, 
audience participation and interest was lively at each 
event, and PAS Lagos was able to distribute a large 
amount of information packets about Bunche.  Moreover, 
we advanced our MPP goals in the area of strengthening 
democratic practices and institutions and supporting 
peaceful conflict resolution through this innovative 
program. The program underscored the positive role of 
African-Americans in U.S. diplomacy, and also provided 
Nigerians with vital information about U.S. efforts in 
support of African independence. 
 
 
BROWNE