13 Dec Press Release: New Acting Consul-General
PRESS RELEASE
New York City, December 1, 2017 —- The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN, Inc.) would like to inform the community that a new Acting Consul-General, Hon. Tanko Abubakar Suleiman, has been posted to the Nigeria Consulate in New York and we are working with him to address the concerns of our community.
We had an opportunity to meet with him on Monday November 20, 2017 to discuss the concerns and expectations of our community in light of the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Consulate Office on Tuesday November 14, 2017. The focus of the meeting was how to make the Consulate Office more customer friendly to those seeking various Consular services and how the Consulate can better engage with the Nigerian Community.
We like to state that the discussion was candid and direct. The Acting Consul-General was very receptive and very understanding of the frustration expressed by Nigerians. He informed us of some of the programs and initiatives he wants to implement at the Consulate. He pledged his commitment to transform the Consulate and its image, laying particular emphasis on the improvement on its delivery of services to Nigerians within its geographical jurisdiction. His Honorable also pledged to change the perception that you need to know someone in the Consulate in order to obtain prompt and expedited services from the Consulate.
In light of our meeting with the Acting Consul-General, we hereby appeal to our community to give the new Acting Consul-General a chance to implement his ideas and initiatives. We strongly believe that most of the concerns of our community will be fully addressed by him.
As part of our desire to create a better relationship between our community and the Consulate, the Ag. Consul-General has also agreed to a town hall meeting with Nigerians so that he can hear from you directly on what your expectations of his office are. OAN leaders will also be engaging the Consulate on regular basis to provide community feedback and suggest areas of improvement to him.
Once again, we appeal to you to be patient as we work with the newly posted Ag Consul-General to address the obvious service issues our community has been experiencing
Please feel free to contact the undersigned if you have any suggestions on how to make the consulate more customer-friendly. Also, you will be duly notified of the date and venue for the Town Hall meeting.
About OAN: Founded over twenty five years ago, the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians is a New York-based not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of Nigerians in the Diaspora; and has been at the forefront of encouraging Nigerians to make positive contributions in the United States. OAN is also the arrowhead of the Nigeria Independence Day Parade Committee, which is a coalition of Nigerian religious, professional, and socio-cultural organizations that plans the annual Nigeria Independence Day Parade in New York City. These organizations include Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Nigerian Nurses Association, Nigerian Lawyers Association, Nigerian Social Workers Association, and various religious and Nigerian ethnic associations. OAN also sponsors seminars and symposia on various topical issues, and has received several awards, proclamations, and citations from City, State, and Federal elected officials for its work.
Contact:
Solomon Bakare, President
Stay in touch with OAN through:
http:// www.oanweb.org