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 Speech/Report By Elder Ted H. Jacobsen, At NAACP Black Heritage Awards 04, New York
At a February 22, 2004 celebration at the Williams Institutinal C.M.E. Church for Black Heritage Month, the NAACP New York Branch and the New York City Central Labor Council’s Black Trade Unionists Leadership Committee (Dr. Annie B. Martin, president of the former and 1st vice president of the latter, and grand dame of the Central Labor Council's Executive Board) recognized Dr. Chika Onyeani, a Nigerian immigrant, lecturer, author, founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of the “African Sun Times,” founder and national chairperson of the United African Congress (UAC) and member of the Central Labor Council’s Commission on the Dignity of Immigrants’ Immigration Subcommittee, by honoring him with the Black Heritage Humanitarian Award.
In presenting the coveted plaque, NYC Central Labor Council Secretary Ted H. Jacobsen, NAACP Diamond Heritage Life Member, member of the New York Branch (Labor’s Branch), Elder and Advisor to the UAC and member of the Citizen’s Commission for African Unity, applauded Dr. Onyeani for his years of dedication to the land of his birth and to the cause of Pan-Africanism, going back to the days when he was the youngest member of the Nigerian diplomatic corps. He is a prolific writer on every issue related to Africa and African-Americans and the author of a provocative book with an even more provocative title: “Capitalist NIGGER: The Road to Success.” Jacobsen thanked his “Nwanna” (Igbo for brother) for his friendship and guidance and for all he has done for Africa and continental Africans in the diaspora and, as the award reads, for his “…lifetime of devotion to the cause of freedom, justice, equality and the dignity of humankind, ‘as the struggle continues.’”
Among the distinguished guests who witnessed the ceremony was the Under-Secretary-General at the United Nations for Africa, His Excellency Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, a Prince in succession to the powerful Gambari Kingdom in Kwara State, Nigeria, who was Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations for ten years. Other Ambassadors who attended included His Excellency Ousmane Moutari, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Niger to the United Nations; Her Excellency Ambassador Ms. Mantu Ekong, Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, who was traveling, sent the Hon. Consul Mr. Aja Nwachukuwu to represent her; Prof. Kalu M. Kalu, with Ms. Afo Kalu, a Consultant, and Ogori Kalu, M.D., and their brother Okemini; Her Excellency Queen Mother Clara Rafua-Kinkel and her husband Warner Kinkel; Mr. Mohammed Baro, First Vice-President and Treasurer of the United African Congress; Mr. Placidus Aguwa, Esq., one of the founders and former Secretary-General of the igerian Lawyers Association; Mr. Oliver Mbamara, Esq, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Lawyers Association; Mr. Abdoulaye Thiam, Assistant to the National Chairman, United African Congress; and, of course, Mrs. Loretta Hand-Onyeani, a principal in New Jersey’s East Orange School District; and his son, Mr. Chika Onyeani, II, Regional Sales Manager, Delta Education, and his wife, Marie.
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