Empowerment for Sustainable Development in Africa:

Perspectives from Missions and NGOs

Africa Forum: Challenges and HopeShepherd University, P.O. BOX 1385HEDGESVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA 25427Phone; 304-754-6563, ezekielspl@aol.com www.ezekielsplace.com

‘Diuto Esiobu Ph.D.Member, Board of Directors, African Christian Fellowship USA & Heritage Africa Inc.

President and CEO Applied Biotech Inc., Professor, Florida Atlantic University www.acfusa.org, www.heritageafrica.org, www.acfmissions.org, www.appliedbiotech.net, www.fau.edu

2620 Bogota Avenue, Cooper City, Florida 33026Contact 954 559 3369; Nesiobu@Comcast.net

Empowerment ……..Two Sides of the Coin

• Empowerment of the African Indigenes

And / Or

• Empowerment of NGOs and Missions

Questions to ConsiderWhy Empowerment?

What types of Empowerment will have lasting impact?

How should Empowerment be done?

Who should carry out the empowerment?

How can we support the efforts so their impact is sustainable?

Why Empower Africans?

• Residual effects of Colonialism rendered them powerless. 

• Harsh and hostile environment 

• A corrupt and Oppressive Leadership

• A New generation of ready Africans are praying and are ready

Types of Empowerment

• WHY

Categories of Empowerment

Type 1• External Inspiration

– Impact is usually sustained when conviction is deep and real

Categories of Empowerment

Type 2• A Helping hand

– Case of the

farmer and the

eagle among his

Chicks

This type accomplishes more but sustainability depends on the eagle as it soars away

Categories of EmpowermentType 3• Help in Time of Need

– Manna in the wilderness– Fish to the hungry– Medical, refugee and

humanitarian missions

Impact is critically important but short lived and not Sustainable!!

Categories of EmpowermentType 4• Wholesome Transformation

– Fisher-men rather than eaters of fish

• Engages all• Effect is highly sustainable!!!

Who Should Empower….The African indigens?

All Stakeholders and partners

People familiar with terrain

All the neighbors

Strategies for Empowering Missions for sustainable impact.• Partnerships at all

levels

• Prudent Financial Investment in Churches and NGOs missions

• Culture and Terrain sensitivity Training– Gender disparity issues– The sense of

community

The Vision & Mission of

African Christian Fellowship USA

And

Heritage Africa Inc

The ACFUSA In Brief• Models Integrity, Excellence

and Compassion since 1977• Creates a Community of

Brotherhood, building families• Builds bridges of reconciliation• Passes on the African Legacy

of family, respect etc• Conducts multi-faceted

Missions in 14 African nations and counting– Breaking up the fallow ground! – www.acfusa.org

Heritage Africa Inc.Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Development of Africa

Heritage Africa is a non-profit organization of African Diaspora professionals in academia, industry, government, health and other sectors. Its mission is to advance multi-sectoral development in many nations through partnerships and strategic delivery and implementation of its programs.

Heritage Africa will:* Promote programs in education, human capacity building

and public information* Establish multi-disciplinary consultant teams, facilitate

integrated development agenda. * Support networking & partnerships, convene meetings,

workshops and colloquia* Set standards of excellence and professional behavior and

integrity* Create and pursue any other activities relevant to the vision of the organization

• Regional Agriculture and Raw Materials Project– Partnership with Government, Academia, Agric

extension workers etc to create large mechanized farms, train indigenes, add value to raw materials through inexpensive technologies

– Develop and disseminate preservation technologies for agric harvest

Opportunities for Partnership

• Medical & Public Health Programs

• To transform benevolent medical missions into a

permanent and lasting endeavor, Heritage Medical Programs:– Create mobile medical clinics– Train indigenous health care workers– Develop Infrastructure for disease diagnosis– Translate Public Health education materials into local languages– Support Visiting Professors to Schools of Medicine in Africa

Opportunities for Partnership

• Passing the Legacy – Campus Outreach / Young Adult programs– Create campus chapters – Conduct training and visit to the continent to

ensure continuity– Pass on the Vision and Mission– Mentoring programs

Opportunities for Partnership

• Professional Exchange Programs– Through its professional exchange programs, Heritage Africa– Sends short term visiting professors in all fields of learning to African

nations. – Creates and sponsors long term sabbaticals to institutions of Higher

learning in Africa.– Supports student / young adult exchange programs– Conducts Biotech, Science and Engineering workshops for

Indigenous Professors– Conducts Leadership training and Adult Literacy programs in

partnership with local organizations– Establishes schools as well as summer youth camps.

Opportunities for Partnership

In Conclusion

Remember the African Chief, the Cow, the Pig and the Fowl

The Earth is a big global village

Thank You

PARTNERSHIP IS KEY