********************************************************************************************************
Join the African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year. Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701
Phone: 608-258-0261 -- Email: [log in to unmask]     Web: www.AfricanAssociationofMadison.org

Attend AAM's Annual General Meeting at 6:30 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Urban League Center, Madison
For Updates and AAM Board Elections.

AAM New Year's Eve Gala starts at 7:00 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel, Madison.  Tickets Now on Sale.

********************************************************************************************************

In Sierra Leone, Nigeria doles out One Million Dollars & Vehicles to NEC
By Aruna Turay
Oct 3, 2012, 17:14

As part of their 52nd Independence Anniversary celebrations,
government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Monday
1st October 2012, donated a cheque of One Million United States
Dollars and twenty-four brand new Toyota Hilux pick-up vehicles to
Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The symbolic handing over ceremony was held at the Nigerian Embassy at
1 Umaru Musa Yar Adua Crescent off Hill Cot Road in Freetown. It
attracted ministers and senior officials from the Governments of
Nigeria and Sierra Leone, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
and senior stakeholders from NEC, civil society, the military and the
police, among others.

 Presenting the keys of the vehicles to the NEC Commissioner, Dr.
Christiana Thorpe, Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone,
Ambassador Eyo Asuquo expressed delight.

He described the occasion as a remarkable and significant milestone in
his country’s current transformation process in strengthening
democratic governance in the sub-region.

Ambassador expressed confidence that Nigeria will continue to be a
source of pride to its citizens, Africa, the black race and humanity.
He said the donation is a symbolic quest of Nigeria’s determination to
endure democracy in Sierra Leone and the sub-region.

Receiving the donations, the NEC Commissioner Dr. Christiana Thorpe,
thanked the President, Government and people of Nigeria for what she
referred to as a great boost to the operations of NEC.

She assured the donors that the vehicles and money donated will be
used judiciously, whilst noting that the vehicles would be used to
facilitate the movement of elections materials and staff to various
parts of the country. Dr. Thorpe maintained that Sierra Leone and
Nigeria have been enjoying a long-term bilateral relationship and
expressed hope that such relationship will continue.

Nigeria has been very supportive to Sierra Leone in areas of
development and peace-keeping. She played pivotal role in ending a
10-years civil war in Sierra Leone. Thousands of soldiers were sent to
keep the peace.

Quite recently, Nigeria also provided technical aid support in Sierra
Leone’s educational and health sectors.

© Copyright by Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

---------------------------------
Ann Marie

*** Send email to the list: [log in to unmask] ***
*** Access AAM list archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/AAM.html ***