CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA:
AN EVALUATION
NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA ORGANIZATION, NIDO
3RD ANNUAL CONVENTION
By Dr. Femi Ajayi
October 17 & 18, 2003
Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport
Theme: Mobilizing Nigerian Stakeholders And Catalyzing Collaborative Action

There is no doubt that Nigerians make tremendous contributions to the development of their host Countries in the areas of their professions. Unfortunately, there has been no effective impact of their roles in influencing some policies that affect them as a group or their homeland from their host countries. One of the reasons might have been lack of practical involvement in their communities, and lack of cohesive responsiveness in their domestic activities. As a result, Nigeria has not been recognized as a force to reckon with by their host countries in their policymaking processes. It is then pertinent for NIDO to effectively encourage Nigerians in Diaspora to make their presence felt in their host countries as done by other nationals in Diaspora.
Nigerians in Diaspora have course to congratulate themselves on its third anniversary for the formation of NIDO Americas. We thank God that His Excellency, President Olusegun "Akinlawon" Obasanjo is still singing his songs of Praise in Aso Rock, Ambassador Professor Senator Jibril Aminu is still playing his flute at the National Assembly, Honorable Taofiq Oseni is still playing his drum in New York, Hon. Joe Keshi is still clapping his hands in Atlanta, and the gentry, the NIDO Board of Directors are nodding their heads in agreement dancing to the irregular music being produced by Abuja, Washington, New York, and Atlanta connection, and the crowd is still at the confused state of mind not really enjoying the concert, but they are still here joining the throng for the next stage of the concert, the gathering of Nigerians in Diaspora.
I do appreciate the good gesture from my good friend and colleague, Dr. Omoh T. Ojior, an Associate Professor at More House College, Atlanta, who came up with this topic: "The Need for Collective Consciousness in The Diaspora". He has graciously encouraged me to give a paper on this topic. Here again Nigerians gather on the same spot that we were three years ago when the mother of NIDO got pregnant and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy who is going to take care of the loving Nigerian children in Diaspora, so that they can stop crying for milk.

This is Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport where His Excellency Obasanjo launched NIDO in 2000, I believe. It is an act of God that we are here today. Thanks to Dr. Ezekiel Macham and his Committee to have chosen this venue to remind us that we have not moved an inch away from the time NIDO came into life. More grease to your elbow Dr. Igietseme and your Planning Committee for reinventing NIDO and brought the convention to Atlanta on its third year anniversary. This is a job well done.

There is an adage in Yoruba that says "Bi aba fi odun meta pinle were, odun melo ni a ma fi ya were." When you spend three years preparing to be insane, for how long would you be insane? That is the piece for the NIDO officials, which I considered to be a challenge in moving NIDO forward
Unfortunately Nigeria is rated as being the happiest country in the whole world. If that is true, why are we worried about lack of basic amenities for our people in Nigeria? Or why is NIDO still dancing on the same spot it was three years past?

We are grateful to the current Board of Directors under the leadership of Mr. Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire, the man who speaks like Sango, 'god of thunder', spiting fire from his mouth. He speaks grammar like my old English Teacher during my National Certificate of Education program at the College of Education, Ilorin, Mr. Onuora. His father must be an old School Teacher. We commend his able leadership for carrying the mantle of leadership along with his Board members, and the wisdom for him to bring NIDO convention back in Atlanta. We thank the immediate past Board members for their role in at least being there at the initial stage, even though most of them were very ignorant as to how NIDO came into being. Our appreciation to the past Board Chairman, Dr. Bato Amu, for his leadership and perseverance to get through the tidal waves; and also an individual that represented Atlanta at the immediate past Board, Mrs. Folashade Arowoselu, for serving as bridge from the previous Board.

Nigerians voluntarily migrated to the United States of America in search of knowledge. Unfortunately they found themselves as undisputed self-imposed refugees in Diaspora as a result of the interference on the political process by "Pepper Soup Generals", according to Charles Olaiya, a Physical Scientist specializing in the Nuclear Waste Immobilization Safety and Industrial Hygiene with the US Department of Energy, Gradually it became endemic for the Military Boys to rotate the leadership among themselves not knowing what damage they were inflicting on Nigeria, while enriching themselves.

Nigerians, after their respective education, could not go back to the country to make their contributions to the community as initially planned. An average Nigerian wants to return to his homeland regardless the shortage of basic life amenities in the country. They love home. When that could not happen, they resolved into taking any type of job that is not in line with their professions in the foreign land that they found themselves. Those that could not do menial job decided to be self-employed in the transportation business, which was very lucrative then. Some got smart, got married to an American and smuggled themselves to the main stream in the country. Thereafter they became Professors, lawyers that could speak like Onyirimba, Emeka and their likes to face American Judges in courts. Those that have very thick ascent, like myself, have to take up any type of job that does not require much talking. We have a crop of Nigerians in the medical field today, according to President Clinton, if they pulled out from the medical services in the country, health services would definitely be paralyzed. Nigerian made lemonade out of lemon to survive their under employment.

Some Nigerians have blend into the Political stream of this country, by volunteering their time, making financial contributions to the political candidates of their choice in a small way. Some have joined the political parties in the United Sates, and attend their regular meetings at all levels. Fortunately, we have a Nigerian born, a two-term Mayor of East Cleveland, Ohio in the United States today (2003), Mayor Emmanuel Onunwor, Some Nigerians have also made themselves effective in the local politics that they are being sought after to make some major decisions in their communities.

Unfortunately, most Nigerian have localized their effectiveness to their ethnic or village councils in OWAMBE grand style, and nothing has been done at the City, State, and National level because of lack of cohesion. There was no unity among Nigerians, everyone wants to be seen and known on an individual basis instead of using their strength as a collective bargaining power, which is more effective in the community we live. Unfortunately, some go to the extent of using religion to polarize Nigerians. Whatever everyone believes in should be respected and leave it as personal choice.

This lack of cohesion among Nigerians could be seen from the formation of ethnic, religious, personal or professional associations, with little or no attempt to fuse together with a common voice and goal. There is nothing wrong with the formation of these groups, if their purpose is to bring development to their home communities, and bring about unity for the country. I would applaud that. Unfortunately, what I am seeing with the formation of these groups is stuffed with high-level ego, displaying what you are, what you have, without using what is 'upstairs' to the benefit of their people both in Diaspora and at home.

NIDO has come under this resurgence to encourage these groups and forge unity among all Nigerians and see how best to improve the welfare of Nigerians in the United States, or anywhere they may be. It is also an avenue for a group to be reckoned with in Nigeria helping the country to get out from its stage of crippleness.

If we might ponder a little bit, Nigerians are fortunate to have been represented in all the professions in the United States, if not in Diaspora. We have Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Engineers, Managers, Entrepreneurs, Directors, Lawyers, Policy Makers, Legislators, and Professors, both at the City, County, State, and National levels. Nigerians have assailed to the policymaking levels in Diaspora against all odds. This is what NIDO should tap at.
The question that we need to ask ourselves is, why have Nigerians not been able to influence some of their host countries' policies on Nigeria, Africa, or the Black Race for that matter, which accounts for why they have not been effective in our home country. In other words what should Nigerians in Diaspora do to make their presence felt in a positive way in their host countries? Quite a lot is expected from them.
I believe President Olusegun "Akinlawon" Obasanjo has a very good intent for accepting the vision from Hon. Joe Keshi to establish NIDO. Whereby, it could form a nucleus for Nigerian Professionals that could be tapped into by the Federal, State or Local Governments in Nigeria. They do not have to be in the Government to contribute to the growth of their country. Everybody cannot work for the Government, or establish businesses. Let us look at some areas of interest for NIDO.
As of April 2000, US population has grown to 281.4 Million, which is 13% increase over the 284.7 million people in the 1990 census. It has grown in size, racial and ethnic diversity. Unfortunately the question on race changed in the 2000 Census. We only had White in one box, Black, African American, or Negro in one box, American Indian or Alaska Native in one box, subdivided into Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Other Asian - to be printed separately on the form, Other Pacific Islander - to be written on the Census form as well. I did not find Africa, or mentioning other African Countries like Nigeria or South Africa. Nigerians or any other Africans residing in the United States are lumped into Black, African-Americans of no Hispanic descendant. Population by race in the US in 2000 were 74% white, Black 13%, American Indian and Alaska Native are 1%, Asian 4%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander were less than 1%, Some other race were 6%, and two or more races 2%.

There were approximately of 28.4 million foreign-born people that live in the United States. (In millions - 14.5 - Latin America, Asia - 7.2, Europe - 4.4, and others are 2.3.) The foreign-born represent 10.4 percent of the U.S. population. People born in Latin America comprise approximately 51.0 percent of the U.S. foreign-born population. Percent distribution of foreign born by world region of birth as of 2000 US Census figures were, Latin America 51.0%, Asia 25.5%, Europe 15.3 %, Other Regions 8.1%. I believe other regions included Africa. The foreign born are more geographically concentrated than the native population. Among the foreign born, 39.9 percent live in the West and only 10.7 percent live in the Midwest. The foreign born are more likely than natives to live inside central cities of metropolitan areas, according to the US Census figures.

Asians population in the United States made up about four percent of the U.S. population in 2000. 9.3% Asians total population lives in the West. South, 2.3%, Midwest 2.2%, Northeast 4.4%. Ten States with the largest Asian populations are California with 4, 155, 685, Washington State - 395, 741, Texas with 644, 193, Illinois 473,649, Florida 333,013, Virginia 304, 559, New Jersey 524, 356, New York 1, 169, 200, Hawaii 703, 23, and Massachusetts 264,814. States in which the Asian population exceeded the U.S. level of 4.2 percent are Alaska 5.2%, Washington State 6.7%, Nevada 5.6%, California 12.3%, New York 6.2%, New Jersey 6.2%, Maryland 4.5%, Virginia 4.3%, and Hawaii 58.0%. Places with the largest Asian populations are New York, 872,777; Los Angeles 407, 444; San Jose 257, 571; San Francisco 253, 477, Honolulu 251, 686, San Diego 189, 413, Chicago 140, 517, and Houston 114, 140.

Let us move to area that impacts on Nigerians, that is the Black population in the United States. The Black population increased faster than the total population between 1990 and 2000. According to Census 2000, the majority of the Black population lived in the South. The South had the highest proportion of Blacks in their total population. About three-fifths of all people who reported Black lived in 10 states. These are, in million, Texas 2.5, Florida 2.5, Georgia 2.4, North Carolina 1.8, Louisiana 1.5, Maryland 1.5, Virginia 1.4, Alabama 1.2, South Carolina 1.2, and Mississippi 1.0.

States where Blacks represent over 25 percent of the total population as of 2000 were Washington D.C. 61%, Mississippi 37%, Louisiana 33%, South Carolina 30%, Georgia 29%, Maryland 29%, and Alabama 26%. The places with the largest Black population were New York and Chicago. Ten largest places in total population and in black population are New York 2, 274, 049, Chicago 1, 065, 009, Detroit 775, 772, Philadelphia 672, 162, Houston 505, 101, Los Angeles 444, 635, Baltimore 424, 449, Memphis 402, 367, Washington DC, 350, 455, New Orleans 329, 171, Dallas 314, 678, San Diego 109, 470, San Antonio 84, 250, and Phoenix 76, 065.

Ten Places of 100,000 or More Population With the Highest Percentage of Blacks: 2000. These are Gary 85.3, Detroit 82.8, Birmingham 74.0, Jackson 71.1, New Orleans 67.9, Baltimore 65.2, and Atlanta, 62.1. Memphis 61.9, Washington, DC 61.3, Richmond 58.1.

Let us look at the local level of where immigrants are making some inroads into the local politics, that is Georgia. According to U.S. Census figures, the Hispanic population in Georgia increased by some 300 percent between 1990 and 2000. 2000 census figures show that there are close to 600-thousand Hispanics (516, 500) now living in Georgia. Nearly 300-thousand Hispanics in Georgia will be of voting age, by 2004 elections. Senator Sam Zamarripa - Georgia's first Hispanic senator, represents District 36, which makes up much of downtown Atlanta and central Fulton County. According to Researchers at the University of Georgia, the Hispanic population growth has been accompanied by a significant increase in that community's buying power and business formation rates. It's estimated that Hispanic spending has jumped more than 700-percent, from $1.3 billion in 1990 to $10.2 billion in 2003. And the largest concentration of that buying power can be found in Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb and Dekalb counties. Ironically the buying power of Nigerians, for parties alone, has no significance in the recognition of their economy buying power.

Hispanics are very entrepreneurial, very frugal community. A trip down Atlanta's roads will make anyone aware that the city is becoming a center for Hispanic population and Hispanic businesses. We found Hispanics at housekeeping jobs in the Hotels, Construction works, on the farms. They use that workforce to form strong Associations that they respect more than the Police or Immigration. Nigerians would turn such into wasteful Owambe parties.

The Associations form partnerships with the local police to keep their citizens in line with the law. Once arrested, they appeal to the police not to hand them over to their Association, because they know the consequences they would suffer at the hand of their local Associations. Could NIDO do something close to that to clean Nigeria's bad image?
Hans Gant, a Senior Vice president for economic development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce says "Atlanta is the home of 25 Fortune 1000 companies, and many of those companies' Latin American headquarters and operations are located right here in Atlanta. Coca Cola is a good example of that, Bellsouth International, ING, and the worldwide financial services company. Their Latin American headquarters are here. And as a result, many Latino professionals are employed and work for those corporations as well." Of all Hispanic-owned firms in Georgia, 40-percent or just over 8,000 are owned by women. The 1996 Olympics was a major force behind the Hispanic migration to Georgia during the past decade. Nigerians came for education, but what have they done with their degrees. Nigerian women would be better off when they re-direct their wasteful spending on something more meaningful to themselves and their communities.
One man who came to Atlanta long before the Olympics from Latin America is Lino Dominiquez. He has been publishing the Mundo Hispanic newspaper in Atlanta since 1979. Dominiquez states, "This is a community that has a lot of money. Right now, Atlanta, Georgia is one of the biggest in terms of income among Hispanics in the country. There are a lot of Hispanics who are business people, opening their own businesses. So you have a good potential there for a good source of revenue for your business." My very own, Charles Onyirimba, started African Quest in the dark ages of Nigerian history to promote Nigerians in Diaspora with skepticism and lack of patriotism among Nigerians. Hispanics were lured by jobs and relatives, a net gain of about 102 Hispanics a day came to Georgia in the last two years from Latin America, mainly Mexico, and from states with much larger Hispanic populations, such as California, Texas and Illinois. The question is how many Nigerians assist other Nigerians for a job?

The pattern repeated itself around the Southeast, in places with little sustained history of Hispanic settlement. The eight states with the fastest growing Hispanic populations included North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia and Alabama. The analysis also shows that metro Atlanta experienced the most rapid Hispanic growth rate among the nation's 20 most populous metro areas. The census says rural Dawson County, about 60 miles north of downtown Atlanta, had the most dramatic increase in Hispanic population --- 59 percent growth --- though only 2 percent of people in Dawson County are Hispanic. Gwinnett County has the highest concentration of Hispanics --- 13 percent --- of the 28 counties that meet the federal definition of metro Atlanta. About 6 percent of Georgians and 7.5 percent of metro Atlanta are Hispanic. In Dalton, Georgia, they have what's called the Georgia Project - which brings teachers from Mexico into the classrooms in Georgia. Now, the net benefit of that is that children are getting exposed to bilingual learning, bilingual education. Nigerians population in the metro Atlanta alone only could be over 50, 000.

Researchers believe it won't be long before Atlanta - and Georgia - experience a major shift in political power, the latest evidence of profound transformation of a state long cast in black and white. "The historic black-white dichotomy in Atlanta and Georgia is going to be split. It's going to be challenged by what is the new group in town. And like democracies work, and should work, they want a piece of the pie - and the piece of pie you have to control is the State House." Local governments spend money to hire translators and interpreters to work in courts, schools and police departments. Other institutions lack the funds to do that. One of the most telling signs of the future is the Spanish-speaking nurse that is suddenly in demand in hospital obstetrics wards. A growing number of babies born in Georgia are Hispanic boys and girls who are likely to come of age in a different Georgia.

Immigration authorities said this year (2003) 228,000 illegal immigrants live in Georgia, though it is not known how many are from Latin America as opposed to other regions. But national estimates are that 76 percent of all illegal immigrants are Hispanic. In spite the illegality of the Hispanics, the State of Georgia is reestablishing two Commissions, the Latino Commission for a New Georgia, and Asian-American Commission for a New Georgia. These Commissions give Asians and Latinos in Georgia an avenue to the State Government, help in Atlanta's bid to land the headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The commissions are also expected to play a role in luring international companies to do business in the state, help develop minority-owned small businesses and advise the governor on education and health care issues, according to a statement from the governor's office. What prevents Nigerians to do likewise, if only we refocus? This is an eye opener for NIDO.

Liberians in Georgia are joining the crusade and getting closer to the government. Atlanta's growing Liberian community is working to help bring peace and stability to their friends and relatives back home in Liberia. Armaso Bawn, the President of the Liberian Association of Metro Atlanta, recalled that there is an estimate of 10,000 Liberians in Metro Atlanta. They are focusing on the suffering of the Liberian people. According to the President

"Well, we can go out there and talk about the suffering, but talking is not going to do it. We have to demonstrate our talking with some action. And the action is to go out in the larger community and then associate ourselves with churches that would then support the relief effort that is being undertaken by the Liberian community. Currently, we are working through the Concerned Black Clergy that has some three to four hundred churches affiliated with that group. They are helping us in that effort as well."

The Liberian Association of Metro Atlanta (LAMA) has set up a relief fund at the Bank of America at www.lamag.org. NIDO what are you doing?
One of the reasons for sharing the above with you is to show what could be accomplished under a cohesive force, and determine where NIDO could focus in mobilizing Nigerian Professionals. Georgia is doing well in this area, don't worry about them. That is one of the reasons NIDO was born in Atlanta. We have serious minded Nigerians in the State of Georgia. They match their words with their deeds.

My frustration is focused on those Nigerians living in Washington, D.C. area which includes Virginia and Maryland, their inability to form a cohesion or a strong lobby group for Africa, talk less of Nigeria their country. We have quite a large number of Nigerian professionals in this area and all they know is OWAMBE party. They claim they dine with this, socialize with that, house the highest Nigerians dignitaries, incongruously they have not made a single inroad into how to influence Nigeria policy makers or their host communities in the United States.
In Nigeria, a country where over 84 million have no access to electricity, and it is the ninth largest populous country; the trio anti-education government officials destroyed Education during the Babangida administration. Today "Equipments often means having CHALK for the BLACKBOARDS. Scholars search university libraries in vain for books and periodicals published during the last decades. And STARVATION WAGES offer little incentives for faculty members to stay at their jobs." AIDS is taking 100s of lives monthly and the government is inept about that. Life expectancy in Nigeria at birth of the total population is 50.59 years, female: 50.6 years (2002 est.) and male: 50.58 years. Agriculture has been neglected whereby "enormous quantities of food had to be imported and paid for in hard currency." In addition to that "One in three people in sub-Saharan Africa is chronically undernourished, double the number of three decades ago."
Unfortunately Import Commodities on machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals soared up to $13.7 billion annually with 2001 estimate.
Regrettably politics has been turned into a moneymaking venture. "Splintered, struggling Africa cannot afford the luxury of
MULTIPARTIES, INDEPENDENT PRESSES AND HONEST DEBATE.
In the absence of CLEARLY DEFINED NATIONAL GOALS, (democratic) freedoms only enable the various factions to fight for SELF-INTERESTS at the expense of majority concerns. Few African leaders are secure enough to pursue policies that might diminish their own power. An example of such is the
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF EVERYTHING AND GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING OF THE ECONOMY AT EVERY LEVEL".
Nigerians are ethnically divided, very argumentative which make Nigeria undisciplined and ungovernable. No wonder President Obasanjo made this statement in 1984 when asked if he planned to govern Nigeria one more time: "I grew up in a village. I am still very much attached to it. This life (farming) is much more relaxing than presiding over Nigeria. And as I have learned, CHICKENS and PIGS ARE MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE to directions and orders than HUMAN BEINGS." We need to open our eyes and emulate what other nationals are doing in Diaspora, using our differences to unite us together will make Nigerians in Diaspora answer most problems Nigeria is facing today.
Let me borrow from Hon. Cathy Cox, Secretary of State, Atlanta, Georgia, when she addressed members of the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Leadership Rockdale class of 2003 and alumni of previous Leadership Rockdale, October 10, 2003:

"Leadership is not about title or office or the popular decision. It's about seeing what needs to be done and going after it. It's about sacrifice, giving up time with your family, or for your own leisure or in the office, because you are a public servant and should approach the job with a servant's heart. We must give to the community if we expect to receive benefits. We can only expect to go where we are willing to lead. How will the next century be different from yesterday or from today? What new technology will we find, or how will the government affect our lives? When our grandchildren and great-grandchildren look back on this time, who would they say shaped history or who wimped out? The answer is you."

Cathy Cox is reminding NIDO Board members that leaders should embrace change, looking 10 to 15 years ahead and thinking how they can improve the world and their communities for their children and their children's children.

Cathy Cox has worked as a journalist and a lawyer, a 16-year member of the Georgia General Assembly, first served with the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996, before working three years as the assistant secretary of state. Then, in 1998, Cox was elected as Secretary of State, where she is now in her second term. Cathy Cox has earned accolades and awards across the state for her work. In 2000, the Georgia Commission on Women named her its Woman of the Year. For the past five years, Georgia Trend magazine has chosen her as one of its 100 Most Influential Georgians, and in 2002, Governing magazine named her one of its 11 Public Officials of the Year, making her the first Secretary of State in the nation to receive the honor.
Where do we go from here NIDO? What do we do NOW? Nigeria needs practical approaches to all the areas just mentioned - NIDO could make this happen. NIDO must counter the negative name tags for Nigeria, such as Nigeria is the Happiest Country in the World, the second most corrupt country in the world, the Drug Hub for Africa, the home of 419ers, the most insecure place on earth, the most expensive place on earth, the most ungovernable country in Africa, the most undisciplined African Country, Nigeria is full of argumentative people, Chickens and Pigs are more responsive to directions than human beings (Nigerians). NIDO has to stand up against these negative Name Tags, and cleanse itself of the bag eggs on its Board as well, so that Nigerians can have A FREE RICO PIE.

Through restructuring NIDO, it must embark on some measurable projects to improve Nigeria image. Nigerians are in all aspects of the operations wherever they are residing. They could use their positions to make it happen. NIDO could focus on the South East Region, Mid-West, North East, Possibly West, States like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and in particular Washington, D.C., to form lobby groups. In its search for Professionals, NIDO should go for quality Professionals, and create a database for the crops of Nigerians in Diaspora. Whenever we have Nigerian officials visiting any of our cities, NIDO should organize, through its members, and engage them in Town Hall Meetings. Nigerians whenever they may be should be 'Seen' so that they could be 'Heard' in their communities, through volunteering their time, money and resources for their communities. We spend money to make money, so goes the saying. Attend community meetings at School, City, Religious places, etc. Form lobby groups and sentence OWAMBE parties to DEATH and finally ask for God blessings.

Rays of hope are beaming on Nigeria as ignited by Mr. Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Basir el-Rufai while testifying at the Senate Committee investigating the allegation of bribery against Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, Deputy Senate President and Dr. Jonathan Zwingina Deputy Senate Leader:

"We are tired of people who equate politics with open corruption, and who think that the way to obscure and bury the truth is to ethnicize, regionalize or politicize it or rope other people through blackmail and intimidation."

Respect is what I think we should have for people like el-Rufai, who is one of those that give Nigeria people some hope, that Nigeria would be great one day, considering the geographical location where he came from. Nigerians should join him on his crusade, while NIDO borrows a leaf from him as well.

NIDO, the ball is on your court. Since NIDO is culturally, ethnically, religiously, and professionally blind in bringing Nigerians together, the choice is yours and your leadership, while doing away with the OWAMBE styles. The task may not be easy, but it could be done.

May I borrow again from Professor Augustine O. Esogbue, Professor and Director Intelligent Systems & Controls Laboratory, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, from one of his jokes, to lighten up your day:
An engineer died and ended up in Hell. Soon, he became dissatisfied with the level of comfort in Hell, and began designing and building improvements. After a while, they had flush toilets, air conditioning, escalators. The engineer was a pretty popular guy. One day God called to Satan and said with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in Hell?" Satan replied, "Hey, things are great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next." God exclaimed, "What? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake--he should never have gotten down there in the first place. Send him back up here." No way," replied Satan. "I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him." God threatened, "Send him back up here now or I'll sue!" Satan laughed and answered, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"
Thank You. Have a productive convention.