ABU VC Advocates Synergy Between African Americans, Black Africans

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By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Vice-Chañcellor, Ahmadu Bello University  (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba has advocated for synergy between black Americans and Africans to facilitate development on the African continent.
He stated this at 2018 Black History Month Commemoration at the ABU main campus, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, an event, organised by the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, ABU, with support from the United States Mission in Nigeria.
Garba said the call became necessary due to the wide gap between the two brothers who came from a single origin and had hitherto lived together.
The VC observed that no matter how rich, knowledgeable and productive a black man might be, he would remain a second class citizen in the eyes of white men.
“What they are after is the colour of your skin not what you can do or what you can offer.
“Remember, we are not as populous as Chinese or Indians and neither are we as populous as Arabs. In spite this segregation, we are still fighting ourselves to extinction,” he lamented.
Prof. Gàrba promised to assist scholars promoting the activities of black African race, to enhance development of the entire continent.
Earlier the Dean, Faculty of Arts, ABU, Prof. Mohammed Umar-Buratai, urged Nigerians to shun tribal and sectional politics by emulating American democracy.
Umar-Buratai noted that most of the conflicts in Nigeria in particular, and Africa at large, traced their roots to ethnicity, tribalism and religious inclination.
“We must learn from the lessons of others all the times; how had America been able to galvanise itself such that someone like Barack Obama emerged as the President of the USA.
“The challenges are great and enormous but through such conversations I believe we would be able to resolve some of the difficulties,” he said.
The Coordinator of Black History Month, Dr Rashida Liman, said the essence of the programme was to commemorate the African history, looking at history and culture of black African race.
She said the project was supported by U.S. Mission, in collaboration with Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, ABU, and Bayero University Kano (BUK).
According to her, the programme does not end in ABU but it comprises other activities in Kano and U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

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