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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF NIGERIA'S INDEPENDENCE AND TO CELEBRATE THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE TO THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR GREAT STATE.
Whereas, on October 14, 2017, the Nigerian Community will be organizing the National Independence Celebration of Nigeria's fifty-seventh year as an independent nation; and
Whereas, the Nigerian Community is a social-cultural, support and development platform that was borne out of a desire to promote and defend the welfare of the Nigerian community who reside in the greater Columbia area; and
Whereas, founded on October 28, 1999, the objectives of the platform are to foster peace and unity, promote and encourage the development of the Nigerian people in both infrastructure and human capacity, promote the cultural values, and identify the challenges of their people in their respective communities, and, thereafter, disseminate the information to the State government for possible action where necessary; and
Whereas, South Carolina has approximately five thousand Nigerians in residence. The United States as a whole has around three hundred seventy-six thousand people with Nigerian roots. Nigeria is the largest source of African immigration to the U.S. The Nigeria-born population has grown immensely from a small base since 1980, when an estimated twenty-five thousand Nigerian immigrants were U.S. residents. Today, Nigerian immigrants account for about 0.6 percent of the United States' overall foreign-born population; and
Whereas, first and second generation Nigerians are highly educated, with thirty-seven percent having earned undergraduate degrees. The U.S. national average of people with an undergraduate degree is only twenty percent. Additionally, members of the Nigerian population are more than twice as likely to have secured an advanced degree; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly deem it appropriate that we honor Nigeria and her South Carolina residents on the occasion of this nation's fifty-seventh year of independence, having originally gained this feat on October 1, 1960, and look forward to celebrating this occasion. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor the fifty-seventh anniversary of Nigeria's independence and celebrate the Nigerian Community of South Carolina and the contributions it has made to the cultural diversity of our great State.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Nigerian Community of Columbia.
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