Collegiate Disengagement and Completion Low Rates: Academic Symposium at the University of Houston Takes the Bull by the Horn

Dr. Anthony Hancock, Dean of Arts and Sciences, at the Houston Community College, during his presentation on Friday, October 27, 2017 – invoking the theories on identity development to advocate a mindset for growth.

Without doubt, college enrollments, disengagement, underachievement, and low rates of degree completion of Black men consistently generated terrifying numerical measures of desolation and ineffectuality.

By Anthony Obi Ogbo (International Guardian, Houston, TX)

It was all hands of deck at the “Men of Color Greater Houston Area Collegiate Symposium” where students and educators gathered for a three-day lecturing, learning, and strategizing on effective ways to support men of color in their college ventures.

The event sponsors by The University of Houston Downtown, Houston Community College and San Jacinto College hosted local schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations in taking part to bring students and leaders together to effectively engage men of color in creating pathways for success for students and professionals in the K-16 environment.

Conference organizers say they hope to specifically review solutions to support students and leaders as they evaluate outcomes for continued success to support institutions, organizations, and communities mitigate school-to-prison pipeline and the collegiate dropout rate. But presentation on Friday, October 27, 2017 by Dr. Anthony Hancock, Dean of Arts and Sciences, at the Houston Community College, unloaded that philosophy – invoking the theories on identity development to advocate a mindset for growth.

Participants – The event was sponsored by The University of Houston Downtown, Houston Community College and San Jacinto College.
Photo from left – Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi, President, Central College, Houston Community College; Dr Anthony Handcock, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Houston Community College; Dr. Roger T Watkins, The San Jacinto College District; and Alvin Johnson, Associate Director of learning Success, University of Houston.

Without doubt, college enrollments, disengagement, underachievement, and low rates of degree completion of Black men consistently generated terrifying numerical measures of desolation and ineffectuality. To make these challenges worse are a lack of effective approaches by educators and policymakers in addressing them. Dr. Hancock admitted that these challenges are among the most pressing and complex issues in American higher education today. In fact,   a summary of problems and inequities that are typically amplified in public discourse, scholarly journals, policy reports, and the media justifies the impending urgency. For instance:

  • 35.8 percent of Black students who enrolled at four-year colleges in 2010 had earned a diploma by 2016.
  • For Whites, 60.7 percent of students who entered college in 2010 had graduated by 2016.
  • At private four-year colleges and universities, the Black graduation rate was 41.1 percent compared to a White graduation rate of 68.0 percent.
  • For Black students entering college in 2010, 39.2 percent of women earned their degrees within six years compared to 31.2 percent of Black men.
  •  About 72 percent of Black students took out a student loan, again the highest rate among any racial or ethnic group.

These figures according to Dr. Handcock shaped the fundamental relevance of his presentation titled, “Sometimes Curve Balls Don’t Curve: A Mindset for Growth.” “Classroom experience matters in strategizing any engagement process when the issue is about people of color,” he noted. For example:

  • What compels one to speak and participate actively in courses in which he is the only Black student?
  • How do Black undergraduate men earn GPAs above 3.0 in majors for which they were academically underprepared?
  • Which instructional practices best engage Black male collegians?
  • How do Black men craft productive responses to stereotypes encountered in classrooms?

These and many more exploratory questions came up from different perspectives to herald reflection forums and sessions at   Men of Color Greater Houston Area Collegiate Symposium. Dr. Handcock’s 45 minutes Presentation on “Sometimes Curve Balls Don’t Curve” however confronted the issues head-on, with substantial intervention actions. A workforce exponent, Handcock expresses the need to create multiple pathways that combine education, training, work experience, and support to help young men, especially those who lack high school diplomas and job skills, achieve successful postsecondary outcomes.

Session participants …hosted local schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations in taking part to bring students and leaders together to effectively engage men of color in creating pathways for success for students and professionals in the K-16 environment.

Among other intervention strategies, there could be a concerted effort to reach out to former students who have attended an institutions but who have not earned a baccalaureate degree from any institution. Finally, the paper advocated an undivided support for economic growth at regional, states and national levels; including research and innovation, commercialization of technologies, and economic development, this includes increasing graduates in areas of critical need including STEM fields.

Special Court Session Held to Honor a Former Nigerian Supreme Court Judge, Late Hon. Justice P.K Nwokedi – Transcript

Late Honourable Justice Nwokedi was called to the Bar at the Lincolns Inn in April 1959. After a successful legal practice, he was elevated to the Judicial Service, in 1974.

A TRIBUTE DELIVERED BY CHIEF GEORGE UWECHUE, SAN, FNIALS ON THE OCCASION OF THE SPECIAL COURT SESSION IN HONOUR OF LATE HONOURABLE JUSTICE P.K NWOKEDI, CON, FORMER JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT AT THE SUPREME COURT ABUJA ON 25TH OCTOBER, 2017.

Protocol

  1. My Lord, Honourable Justice Walter S.N. Onnoghen, G.C.O.N, the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria.
  2. My Lords, Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and other superior courts of record here present
  3. Please permit me to adopt the order of protocol already established.

It is with a deep sense of grief that I present this tribute in memory of Late Honourable Justice P.K. Nwokedi, CON, former Justice of the Supreme Court, who transited to eternal glory on the 3rd day of September 2017.

For us, his friends and members of the legal profession, his demise at the ripe age of ninety years, painful as it was, provides us the opportunity to join his family to celebrate his most accomplished life of an upright, erudite legal luminary and a judicial icon.

The Late Honourable Justice Paul Kemdilim Nwokedi was born on 3rd November, 1926 to Chief Joseph Ndubuisi Nwokedi, Uthoko III of Achalla – a court interpreter, who rose to become a Customary Court Judge in former Eastern Nigeria and was later made a Warrant Chief in 1921.

Late Honourable Justice Nwokedi attended St. Gregory’s College Lagos, 1944-1945, for his secondary school education and passed the Cambridge Senior Schools Certificate in 1945, in Division 1, with exception from London Matriculation. As an external candidate, in 1951 he passed the BA degree examination from the University of London in Division 2.

In 1957 he enrolled at the famous London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) (LSE) and graduated in 1959 with the LLB (Hons) degree second class. I first heard about his academic excellence from Professor B.O. Nwabueze, SAN, LLD, NNOM in 1961, when he was preparing me for admission into the LSE (also his Alma Matar). I later enrolled at the same LSE in 1962, where I graduated in September 1965 with LLB (Hons) degree, second class.

Late Honourable Justice Nwokedi was called to the Bar at the Lincolns Inn in April 1959. After a successful legal practice, he was elevated to the Judicial Service, in 1974. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of  East Central State of  Nigeria, where he served until 1976, when he became a Judge of Anambra State. He was appointed the Chief Judge of Anambra State in 1985 and in 1991, he was elevated to the apex judicial office of Justice of the Supreme Court.

While serving as the Chief Judge of Anambra State and until he retired from the Supreme Court on the 2nd of  November 1991, he served as a member of the Body of Benchers.

Late Honourable Justice P.K Nwokedi made very outstanding contributions in several areas of the law. Please permit me to refer briefly only to two of his judgments at the Supreme Court. In AREMU vs STATE (1991) 7 NWLR (part 201) page 1 at 16 F-H, the learned jurist illustrated the significance of the doctrine of “recent possession” in evidence in these terms:

       “ He was on the evidence accepted by the trial court in possession of the stolen vehicle with the first appellant. Section 148(a) of the Evidence Act is above reproduced. A trial court may in the circumstances above outlined, presume that the appellants found in possession of a vehicle stolen about 12 hours earlier were the persons who stole the vehicle in question.”

In Agbai v Okogbue (1991) 9-10 SC, page 57 at page 73, late Hon. Justice Nwokedi emphasized the superiority of fundamental rights over other laws when, delivering the leading judgment, he held:

       “ Much as one would welcome development projects in the community there must be caution to ensure that the fundamental rights of a citizen are not trampled upon by popular enthusiasm. These rights have been enshrined in a legislation, that is, the Constitution, which enjoys superiority over local custom. Freedom of association and of religion are enshrined in Sections 24(1) and 36(1) of the 1963 Constitution as amended respectively which is applicable in this instance.”

On occasions like this it is customary to use a tribute to such a legal luminary to address some issues that deserve the attention of members of the Bench and the Bar, with particular reference to the service of the deceased jurist. In the case of Late Honourable Justice P.K Nwokedi, there is the need to revisit the current practice of not elevating serving or retiring Chief Judges of the “High Courts”, who had served commendably, directly to the Supreme Court, instead of the Court of Appeal which is the current practice, to complete their service until they attain the age of seventy.

Late Honourable Justice P.K Nwokedi was succeeded at the Supreme Court by Late Honourable Justice Anthony I, Iguh, JSC, who came direct from his office as the Chief Judge of Anambra State in 1991, where he had served most diligently. Also, from the same South Eastern zone, much earlier, Late Honourable Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, JSC, of renowned fame, was elevated directly from the office of Chief Judge of Imo State to the Supreme Court in 1984.

From the South West Zone, Late Justice Kayode Eso, JSC, was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court directly from his office as the Chief Judge of Oyo State in 1978. Also Hon. Justice E.B. Craig, JSC, was elevated from the office of Chief Judge of Ogun State to the Supreme Court in 1987. From the Northern Zone, Late Hon. Justice Saidu Kawu, JSC, rose to the Supreme Court from his office of the Chief Judge of Kwara State. All these direct appointments where made after the creation of the Court of Appeal in 1976!

The urgent need to resume a discussion on this issue, was underscored by the recent “Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria”, published on 12th October, 2017, which placed much greater emphasis on a candidate’s “Final Judgments” of the High Court (20) than the Court of Appeal (5) and the Supreme Court (4) only. This is most appropriate, in my view, because it is at the High Courts that the witnesses are examined and cross examined and the major legal tussle between the parties and their counsel is engaged.

Throughout his career, in private practice and as a judicial officer, Late Honourable Justice P.K. Nwokedi exhibited the highest level of honour, dignity and integrity and his legacy as a lover of peace and transparency lives on!

We commend his soul to God and pray that He grants the entire Nwokedi family of Achalla and his five children, three of whom are lawyers (including our distinguished colleague, Uche Nwokedi, SAN) , Phyllis Obiageli Nwokedi (who recently retired as a Federal Permanent Secretary) and Afam Nwokedi,  the fortitude to bear this loss.

 

Chief George Uwechue, SAN, FNIALS

After Russia, Nigeria is leading a dangerous “fake news” culture – EFCC, FBI must step up

Another blog noted for notoriety and sensational stories, weeklypostng.org published a fake photo of the ailing President together with an image of an unidentified burial event; narrating how Aisha Buhari wept bitterly over her husband’s death.
Anthony Obi Ogbo | Guardian News, Houston, TX

It escalated with a “Breaking News” pullout on January 29th, categorically reporting that an ailing Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari was dead. According to the authors, “phcitybreed.tv”, Buhari died in a London Hospital where he was receiving medical care. The blog attributed its source to another fake set-up, “CNN-ALIVE”, and also indicated a confirmation by that the Nigerian Mission in UK. This piece generated millions of shares and infiltrated the social media with heated discussions about a fragile Nigeria’s sociopolitical system under its sick president.

January 30, the blog made it even worse; claiming that Queen Elizabeth II had sent a condolence message to Buhari’s family and the people of Nigeria. “In a message of condolence, the Queen described Buhari as “one of Africa’s pillars”, the blog wrote. Quoting “another London source”, the blog further claimed that the British Prime Minister, Theresa May visited the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK to express her condolence.

Naijanewsplus.com also published a different version of a crowded burial event carry a corpse depicted as that of the late President.

By the first week of January, the social media was already saturated with various headlines and photos suggesting President Buhari was dead. Two other blogs; “metro (blocked)” and “naijanewsplus.com” took the lead; feeding a desperate social media audience with uncorroborated “Buhari-is-dead” headlines with horrible doctored  photos. In fact, Naijanewsplus.com published an old photo of Queen Elizabeth II as a recent photo – signing a condolence register on Buhari’s death.

January 30, the blog made it even worse; claiming that Queen Elizabeth II had sent a condolence message to Buhari’s family and the people of Nigeria.

Another blog noted for notoriety and sensational stories, weeklypostng.org published a fake photo of the ailing President together with an image of an unidentified burial event; narrating how Aisha Buhari wept bitterly over her husband’s death. Naijanewsplus.com also published a different version of a crowded burial event carry a corpse depicted as that of the late President.

By the first week of January, the social media was already saturated with various headlines and photos suggesting President Buhari was already dead. Two other blogs; “metro (blocked)” and “naijanewsplus.com” took the lead; feeding a desperate social media audience with uncorroborated “Buhari-is-dead” headlines with doctored horrible photos.

March 10 however; President Buhari returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he actually received medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment for 50 days. Today, this same “dead” President is alive undertaking both national and international engagement. So, what must have gone wrong?

The President and his media handlers may have instigated these array of misinformation and deceit by lopsidedly dribbling the public about the President’s ordeal. It communicated his medical leave, but failed to update Nigerians with substantial details, fueling all sorts of rumors about his survival. Desperate bloggers sponsored by those opposed to his regime however, saw this as an opportunity to incite a population already angry about the public system under President Buhari. These are the background realities that provoked the “fake-news” culture.

The FAKE NEWS PARADE – KNOW WHO THEY ARE

METRO(Blocked)
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been reported dead in a London Hospital
(Site already taken down).

NAIJANEWSPLUS.COM
BREAKING NEWS: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Is Dead Confirmed By CNN-ALIVE
► ► ►

PHCITYBREED TV
Now confirmed: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is dead
► ► ►

NAIJANEWSPLUS.COM
Buhari’s DEATH …. See Queen Elizabeth II condolence Message To Nigeria!(Watch Video)
► ► ►

WEEKLYPOSTNG.ORG
Buhari’s Death: SAD NEWS!! The Worst Has Happened. Aisha Buhari Weeps Bitterly – Live on CNN
► ► ►

 

Indeed the “fake News” culture is a bad trend in any nation’s political development and stability; especially as Nigeria gears up for a 2019 general elections. Fake news websites disguise as real news outlets but calculatingly publish hoaxes, propaganda, and falsehood —habitually using social media to enlarge their messages and drive web traffic. The websites seek to misinform the audience for both financial and political gain; and they have indeed influenced political trends in major counties.

In the United States for instance, the Senate intelligence committee leaders have received reports that Russia hired at least 1,000 trolls to spread fake news stories to hurt the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton during its previous presidential election. The fraud was said to have been orchestrated by Kremlin which reportedly paid an army of vandals to create fake anti-Hillary Clinton news stories targeting key swing states.

March 10 however; President Buhari returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he actually received medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment for 50 days. Today, this same “dead” President is alive undertaking both national and international engagement.

Nigeria, currently battling a negative image as one of world’s most corrupt countries is obviously leading a dangerous “fake news” culture which might be politically destructive. To curb this chaos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must step up with aggressive strategies to locate and track down individual culprits and media outlets reputed for spreading falsehoods. They could collaborate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States currently investigating similar trend to explore relevant leads to this obnoxious development.

This country is presently crippled with ethnic strifes and economic recession as it approaches a 2019 general election season. Thus, effective policies must be put in place to track down culprits and social media sites behind this destructive trend.

Governor Okorocha, President Zuma and the statue – an empirical summary

Governor Okorocha, President Zuma, and the statue – But has Nigerians actually tried to brainstorm on other ways to benefit from Imo State and S. Africa’s new relationship?

South Africa may have nothing to lose; but Ndi Igbo and Imo State stands to gain in any diplomatic relationship between these two entities.

Anthony Obi Ogbo | Publisher Analysis

Most Nigerians are still trading words in thorough controversy over a large bronze statue of President Jacob Zuma, unveiled in Nigeria’s Imo State in his recent visit. But Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, defended his actions or approach as a strategy to encourage a favorable business relationship between his state and South Africa. President Zuma was actually in the state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, between the Jacob Zuma Educational Foundation and Rochas Foundation College of Africa.

President Zuma’s regime no doubt witnessed a rise in xenophobic violence in South Africa where Nigeria citizens suffered most, but the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and his regime equally, may have failed in their responsibility to respond with corresponding diplomatic reciprocity. Notwithstanding these dark moments, South Africa, still remain hosts of thousands of Nigerian  businesses and an overwhelming population of Nigerian residents who are mostly of Igbo ethnicity.

But rather than the prevalent bombardment of Governor Okorocha with spiteful expletives, for honoring  Jacob Zuma; have critics tried to brainstorm on other ways to benefit from this IMO STATE and S. AFRICA’S relationship?

It was gathered that as an outcome of this visit, President Zuma has approved setting up a consulate in Owerri, which would in fact ease travel and visa processes, and boost commerce activities between Eastern Nigeria and South Africa. Business owners in South Africa – majority from Imo State also claim President Zuma’s approval of an official payment center in Imo State would help, not only to boost their businesses, but also enlarge Imo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Be it through a Statue or Chieftaincy title, any diplomatic bond between these entities could be used as an ambassadorial instrument to NEGOTIATE the protection of thousands of Nigerian businesses and investments in South Africa estimated at millions of dollars. Pragmatically, we must acknowledge the basic reality, that South Africa might have  nothing to lose; but ‘Ndi Igbo’, Imo State, and indeed Nigerians have much to gain in any diplomatic relationship between these two entities.

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, politics is NOTHING but a two-way traffic, where policies or leaders are either HATED or LIKED. Policies are hardly, neither negotiated nor reassessed to supplement the moment. Yet, until Nigerian citizens, especially eligible voters learn how to utilize politics to their communal benefits; how to elect leaders who would serve their interests rather than represent them  as tribesmen – they would equally remain as fruitless as their leadership in creating substantial path toward matters of  national development.

Facilitator of American Journal of Transformational Leadership, Publisher Dr. Anthony Obi Ogbo is also the author of Influence of Leadership

IPOB – Ravage-effect of Fraudulent Radical Engagements

Analysts may be divided over the dangerous implications of Kanu and his street followers to the progress of the Igbo ethnic group, but it must be acknowledged also; that it would take Igbos a long time to recover from the lingering wounds inflicted in the structure of its political progress by Kanu’s intoxication for power, money, and ego.

By Anthony Obi Ogbo – Publisher’s Analysis (International Guardian, Houston, TX)

Psychological factors of political activism have never been scorned by history; in fact, the implications of political movement and social action have provided positive apparatus for societal reforms. Political motivation starts from the mind because it is often triggered by emotional reactions over prevalent public issues. Hence, these psychological factors remain significant in the attitude that drive change, individual participation, and outcome of political movements or protest events.

So, when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu sprang up initially to advocate what it called “original inhabitants and owners of the lands and communities of Biafra and Biafraland”, they were received as individuals exercising their rights to challenge the authorities into negotiating their civic interests. But matters unfolded sequentially to confirm that this was just another unwaged group hiding under the great values of the Rising Sun to seek the attention of the regime for selfish monetary bargains.

Most disappointedly, Kanu exposed a totally ignorance and confusion about his own mission; unable to articulate the legislative process of self-determination; could not distinguish between a referendum and statutory deconstruction of self-reliance, but would infiltrate the Internet with amateurish videos of threats and tommyrots to enflame chaos in a vulnerable society currently going through economic and political crunch.

This tactics is not new in Nigeria – a West African nation where in recent times, swindlers, guttersnipes, armed robbers and other breed of dishonest vandals crashed into political and social activism, and turned that institution into a bloody gambling career.

For instance, the world saw how the Niger Delta Militants terrorized their region with deadly ammunitions, kidnapping humans, looting and blowing oil installations. Of course, they claimed to be fighting for their land, until one after the other, rebellious group leaders gradually bargained their agitations into personal wealth.

Today, those militants swim in riches and have since softened their lines of action. Yet, the Delta remains the Delta – quite underdeveloped with local chiefs and political leaders confused about viable strategies to manage their valuable resources.

He would brag about procuring arms and burning down Nigeria – which he describes as the zoo; while some suckers who followed and cheered him would turn around to defend him as nonviolent. When it became clear that Kanu does not even understand his own agenda, he lied to his followers that his missions were now mysterious and were being directed by some divine powers. What nonsense!

IGBO as an ethnic group is no exception to such menace of unscrupulous activists. For example, when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan assumed office in 2010, most Igbos assumed that his regime was the right time to release Ralph Uwazuruike, the then jailed leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). But from all indications, Uwazuruike, was not so keen on coming out of jail. He was more interested in remaining in jail – to intensify his campaign and gather more attention to raise money. Uwazuruike now flourishes in wealth and has totally abandoned his so called agitation to actualize the sovereign state of Biafra.

It became obvious why there are hundreds of Pro-Biafran groups; why those leaders would always want to be arrested, and why every lazy dude wants his own  Biafra. It also became obvious why Kanu and Uwazurike – supposedly leaders of two major pro-Biafran groups have been engaged in bitter rivalry, exposing themselves and their underhanded “self-determination “motives. So intense that Uwazurike accused Kanu of using his call to boycott elections in Anambra State to stage chaos and mass murder; to motivate and uplift his campaign to generate international attention. He was right.

Furthermore, Kanu must be remembered for using gullible Igbo youth Igbos and their innocent blood as weapons of war, to attain notoriety. IPOB and Kanu had strategically set innocent supporters up for death by pushing them forward as a shield against Nigeria’s merciless army. They had videoed them in the process and used those VIDEOS to seek international attention and raise money. This is criminally a terroristic exploit. HAMAS adopted it – now IPOB is using it.

Without doubt, Kanu and IPOB have over the past months demonstrated the most deplorable path to political activism. A look at their rhetoric and the cause they claim they agitate shows a bunch of angry followers rallying around an ill-informed opportunist who struggled in London romanticizing a pitiful state of pennilessness. Kanu saw an opportunity through using the social media to deceitfully incite angry unemployed Igbo youth into believing that Biafra could be resurrected by spewing vulgarity on U-tube, marching the streets, vandalizing neighborhoods, and throwing rocks at the police.

Most disappointedly, Kanu exposed  total ignorance and confusion about his own mission; unable to articulate the legislative process of self-determination; could not distinguish between a referendum and statutory deconstruction of self-reliance, but would infiltrate the Internet with amateurish videos of threats and tommyrots to enflame chaos in a vulnerable society currently going through economic and political crunch.

He would brag about procuring arms and burning down Nigeria – which he describes as the zoo; while some suckers who followed and cheered him would turn around to defend him as nonviolent. When it became clear that Kanu did not even understand his own agenda, he lied to his followers that his missions were now mysterious and were being directed by some divine powers. What nonsense!

Analysts may be divided over the dangerous implications of Kanu and his street followers to the progress of the Igbo ethnic group, but it must be acknowledged also; that it would take Igbos a long time to recover from the lingering wounds inflicted in the structure of its political progress by Kanu’s intoxication for power, money, and ego.

Furthermore, Kanu must be remembered for using gullible Igbo youth and their innocent blood as weapons of war, to attain notoriety. IPOB and Kanu had strategically set innocent supporters up for death by pushing them forward as a shield against Nigeria’s merciless army. They had videoed them in the process and used those VIDEOS to seek international attention and raise money. This is criminally a terroristic exploit. HAMAS adopted it – now IPOB is using it.

The truth may be hard to swallow, but must be told. As of today, Biafra is not a country but a well-fought mission every Igbo is proud of. Resurrecting such mission is possible with pulsating strategies and reasonable legislative support. Definitely not with the current breed of lying activists stalking the streets without clear objectives.

Propaganda does not yield political fruits. A quest for reconstruction of Nigeria is inevitable and accomplishing that is a matter of time. One opportunity slipped off during President Jonathan’s regime. The current regime of President Muhammadu Buhari does not believe in such reformation process, so Nigerians passionate about reconstruction or structural transformation of their governmental process may create a 2019 opportunity to bargain those interests with aspiring contestants.

Structural reformation in a democratic process can only be achieved though constitutional means. We must also understand that one million calls to the United Nation’s office or even to Donald Trump, who by the way could not properly hold his own executive position, cannot influence any decision-making action in Nigeria’s current regime. Flying IPOB flag on London streets or Houston’s downtown can only yield photos for the social media page and might bear no positive implications to supporting leaders that would represent any political interests as Nigerians.

HCC Central College President, Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi, Named to a Global Education Commission

Dr. Siddiqi said he looks forward to representing HCC on the commission. “I am excited by this appointment and welcome the opportunity to share my experience and HCC’s values with commission members.

The president of Houston Community College’s (HCC) Central College has been appointed to a special commission by a national education organization.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) named Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi to its Global Commission on Global Education.  Dr. Siddiqi says he is honored to receive the appointment.  “I believe that global education plays an increasingly important role in enriching students’ learning experiences in U.S. institutions of higher education.” 

The purpose of the AACC commission is to provide a forum for focused conversation on global education and to advise the organization’s board and staff.  In naming Dr. Siddiqi to the commission, Dr. Walter Bumphus, president and CEO of the AACC said, “Your insight and leadership will significantly contribute to the board’s decision-making process.”

Dr. Siddiqi has an extensive background in international education and business. He worked a dozen years for multinational corporations in six countries. His tenure in higher education is marked by successful implementation of campus internationalization activities. 

At his previous institutions in Illinois, Dr. Siddiqi worked with the Illinois Consortium of International Studies and Programs, an international education consortium of over 25 community colleges, to dramatically expand international faculty and student exchange programs and cultural tours.  He also worked with faculty and staff to create a comprehensive campus internationalization plan that integrated international education goals into academic and student affairs strategic planning processes and outcomes.      

Dr. Siddiqi received his undergraduate education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and also pursued postgraduate studies in Singapore, Thailand and the Netherlands.

HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado said, “Dr. Siddiqi’s international business and educational experience makes him an invaluable asset to HCC.  His appointment to the Commission on Global Education is well deserved.”

Dr. Siddiqi said he looks forward to representing HCC on the commission.  “I am excited by this appointment and welcome the opportunity to share my experience and HCC’s values with commission members.Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 15 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society.

HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 15 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit http://www.hccs.edu/

 

x Close

Like Us On Facebook