What we stand for; what we Plan to do;
And Our Achievements so far

Our Vision:
The preservation of African indigenous cultures and development, including traditions and traditional institutions, language and ideas through education, research activities, and
Assisting the youths and the needy through humanitarian activities

Our Mission:
Education, research and development; humanitarian activities; assisting the youths in understanding African cultures and traditions in a way to make them become responsible citizens of the world while introducing the cultures and traditions of Africa to the Western World. These we will do with activities meant to bring about mutual understanding and respect between the peoples of Africa and the West, thereby reviving and preserving the powerful indigenous cultures and customs of Africa for posterity.

Goals: a. Establish research centers for indigenous cultural studies;

b. Produce books and children’s book in particular in indigenous
African languages to enhance their teaching and research;

c. Provide opportunities for American and other Western scholars;
to conduct research in Africa;

d. Foster cultural and educational understanding for mutual respect
and peace;

e. Set up youth academy/daycare centers for the teaching of
African languages to young people and children here in the US
and in Africa;

f. Provide an opportunity for Americans to visit Africa
periodically;

g. Restore mother tongues essential in cultural development and
preservation in Africa;

h. Assist in the restoration & preservation of historical national
monuments such as the Benin Moat;

i. Study and investigate each of the notable masquerades in many
part of Africa and document them;
j. Study the Chieftaincy tradition in Africa;

k. Restore, promote, and document many of the cultural and
traditional festivals;

l. Conduct public lectures, seminars, symposia and workshops;

m. Provide mediums for scholars and for public interactions:

1. Oral communication medium (Rural Radio Station/Transmitter) for public education;

2. An academic forum, peer review journal.

The Academic Forum

The Journal for African Traditional Studies (JATS)

The mission of this Journal is to provide a forum for the examination of issues related to the cultures and traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the peoples of African descent while encouraging the promotion and analysis of the indigenous cultures and traditions of the people as a way to preserve the human nutrients for posterity.

Programs and Activities

Consistent with our Vision, Mission and Goals, as stated above, Onima Institute for Tradition and Development USA, Inc has a planed program of activities to assist in the stabilization of democratic governance in Africa through motivating the youths to understand why they have to plan to be good citizens. To this end are two Themes on the agenda. They are “Leadership and Human Development,” and “Strengthening the African Family.”

Onima Institute believes that bringing some African members of the ruling class in the various levels of human endeavors to the US, to acquire some knowledge and skills including exposing them to see what the human mind is capable of doing, will enhance their ability to do the right things upon their return to Africa. Therefore, in the Leadership and Human Development agenda, we have designed programs for the three arms of government including the media, legislative leaders, senior public executives, criminal justice/law enforcement, African women in politics, educators, business leaders, local government chairmen, and executive financial managers, etc., for those in these professions/avocations to come to our one week intensive training in the US and return to Africa to apply the knowledge and skills gained from our programs.

1. In an attempt to meet local needs for African language experts in the US, and as one of the ways to revive, promote and preserve the languages, Onima Institute began its African language classes on 11 indigenous African (Nigerian) indigenous languages (first set) since May 2008. Classes are held the first two weeks of every month without charge at this time. The age of students begins from 5 and up. Venue is at the Rex Community Center in Morrow, Georgia.

2. There is a prepared proposal to write up the text books on the eleven languages to enhance the teaching and research here in the US and Africa where the survival of some of the languages is threatened.

3. Conduct workshops for the elderly as a way to assist their alertness and health.

4. Assisting needy and indigent high school students locally, and in Africa where we have some on scholarships.

5. Onima Institute conducts a sixteen week Study Abroad Program © in Africa. Courses covered include Contemporary Political History of Africa, African Culture and Society, African History and Folklore/Oral Story Telling, African Arts and Culture, History of African Arts, Arts since 1900, and African Music and Literature. A Student is expected to take only five classes to earn 15 units of credit upon return to his/her school in the United States, from Africa. Interested participants are to send for more details of this program.

6. We run a guided two weeks tour of African interior. This is the “Etsako Guided Tour” ©. Participants will be guided to visit some of the most mystical Traditional Grounds and Sacred Places in traditional Africa. They include Ogba Inekeze, Mystical Ise, and Akazi Shrines; Usomorika, listen to ghosts beat their drums at Eda e gba Ake, Ogumogu Wonders, Ebemanwu Masquerades, Igboba and Agbi ancient dances performers, and more.

7. Igue Festival is over a hundred years old and it is celebrated every year by the Ogitso of Benin, Oba, and his high ranking traditional rulers and chiefs in the last two weeks of each year. Each day of the two weeks has its own activities performed in turns by each traditional ruler or chief at the Ogitso’s Sacred Ground and Palace. By special privilege Onima Institute has front role of seats for its guests. This is an alluring and healing festival in which foreigners look forward to see when they visit Africa each time.

Achievements

• Onima Institute has an In-house journal, The Journal of African Traditions and Development (JATSAD), published twice yearly as funds permit. Our maiden issue was published in October of 2006 and donated to schools and libraries while few copies were sent to the universities, libraries and museums that have subscribed.

• We have maintained Onima Annual Lecture Series since 2005 in Africa. Each year, we select a traditional topical issue and give a lecture on it free without charge. In 2005, our topic was “Polyharmony,” a political and philosophical discourse on an African marriage system which saves a State from the payment of welfare checks to unmarried mothers and saves a State from having juvenile delinquency in its domain while ensuring that every child has a father because almost every marriageable female has a husband.

• The Theme for the year 2007 through 2008 is “Strengthening the African Family”

• Onima Institute purchased learning materials worth $1,500 and went to Africa in November 2006 through January 2007, and distributed to High School students and Elementary pupils in more than 15 institutions, in towns and rural areas.

• At the Partnership for Community Action, Inc as volunteer, we worked with some refugees from East Africa in 2004 and 2005 assisting them to resettle in the Atlanta area and Stone Mountain area of the City. We assisted some in preparing Business Plan to assist them to obtain small business loan.

• Organized funding for and send books to secondary (high) schools abroad.

• Participated as a volunteer in the coordination and development of a nongovernmental organization (NIDO) in the US aimed at developing a data base to assist the growth of US/Nigerian business and industrial relation (2004 to date).

• In November of 2006 through January, we were in Africa making donations of books and our maiden Journal, to universities and other schools in some towns and in the rural areas of Africa.

• As part of our community service, in 2006 and 2007, we volunteered at some schools in Clayton County, to meet and welcome students back to school while distributing pencils to them. We also volunteered to visit chosen schools, spoke with the pupils, read stories to them, and read articles of interest to them followed by questions and answers sessions. This was to assist the pupils and motivate them to be studious and become responsible citizens thereafter. Onima Institute is involved in this County School Board’s project every year and we are happy to be of service in the community.

• In its effort of promoting education and community awareness, Onima Institute successfully presented “Traditional Sounds and Rhythms of Africa” in a two hour presentation program, on Sunday, August 19, 2007 at the Auburn Research Library Auditorium in Atlanta Georgia. Admission was free to the public.

• We have letters of appreciation, certificates and awards from those who have come in contact with Onima Institute, and there are pictures showing some of our activities and efforts.

• Onima Institute for Tradition and Development USA, Inc is a member of the
Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
Our Urgent Need

Onima Institute’s greatest need now is funds; grants to enable it carry out many of the programs and activities which are geared towards the goals of the Institute. As a non-profit, donations to Onima are tax deductible. Onima Institute expects that Nigerian philanthropists and altruistic individual

Onima Institute for Tradition &Development USA, Inc©
A Nonprofit Corporation
Founded 2004 for education, research & fostering African traditions and development
3866 Parnell Way, Ellenwood, GA 30294*Ph. 678-641-9939* Fax: 770-961-6102

Onima Institute: An Introduction

We want to introduce to your organization the “Onima Institute for Tradition and Development USA, Inc.” Onima or Onima Institute is a child of necessity. Onima Institute was founded in 2004 and incorporated 2005 in Ellenwood City, State of Georgia in the United States as a non-profit corporation, on a desirable mission to fulfill a need within the African communities, in the United State and at home in Africa. Grants to Onima Institute are tax deductible under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code of the United States Government.

African indigenous languages, cultures and traditions are threatened by the over whelming impact of modern day influences in the African communities. One does not need to say much on the problem because it is very apparent every where, at home and abroad. A situation where two adults of the same ethnic group are no longer able to speak their mother tongue, with each other, without mixing their speeches with English, Arabic, Spanish, or French is a serious problem that should not be left unchallenged. The lost of indigenous languages of Africa would be a disaster not only to the African peoples, but the entire human race. This is why we are in the know that the United Nations Organization is becoming very concerned about the problem, and hence the UNESCO Cultural Policies for Development which mandates States to include culture as a key component of their national development. A major example now of this problem is Nigeria. Nigerian languages, cultures and traditions are waning fast, to say the least. Most Nigerians are neglecting their way of life; many prefer foreign names over their cultural traditional and more meaningful names; they imitate foreign cultures which are some of the reasons the current problems of a smeared image for the country and the people. Culture and traditions are self-restraining as disciplinarians, and with the rise in sharp practices and fraudulence in many places; the situation needs to be reversed, and it is now. The Africans of tomorrow, the young children are unable to speak their mother tongue in Africa and in their communities abroad, but these kids speak in foreign tongues with their parents at home, and this is instructive enough to border conscientious indigenes of Africa especially Nigeria. Some other countries like India, China, Japan, Mexico and other parts, south of the Americas; all of these countries belong to the older world which Africa is a greater part; these countries do not have this type of a problem of cultural destruction. Onima Institute’s quest for solutions is leading it to contact organizations and individuals, for assistance to help the unhappy situation regarding the trend of indigenous cultures in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general.

Onima Institute has well defined vision, mission, and goals including an elaborate scheme of educational and research activities geared towards the revival, promotion and development; propagation and preservation of African cultures and traditions, at home and abroad. Africa is in daring need of development.

The purpose of this discussion here is to formally introduce the Onima Institute for Tradition & Development USA, Inc., and to seek your sympathetic understanding of the situation. Onima

Institute is therefore looking forward to add our efforts and work with all who understand what is at stake, sustenance, growth and development. Please after reading this communication, just think about what the solution should be to preserve our existence; think of how to assist Onima Institute to combat the trend and the problem.

Onima needs publicity and funding. To this end, Onima Institute conducts one week intensive African centered training programs as one of the ways to raise funds for its activities and to assist the development of the democratic process in Africa. Look for our journal, “The Journal of African Traditional Studies.” Go to our website: http://www.onimainstituteusa.org (still under construction), to see the work Onima is doing and what it plans to do. We thank you for your assistance. We are very optimistic that African universities and African philanthropists will take interest in Onima Institute’s vision, goals and what we are currently doing. Onima is attracting American students to African universities; attracting American tourists to Africa with its two weeks Guided Tour of part of Africa, and a 16 week Study Abroad Programs. In these programs Onima Institute believes will bring about mutual respect, peace and understanding between humanity, and it is the motive behind our moderate prices compared with others similar programs. For more information, call us 678-641-9939 or e-mail: omoh@onimainstituteusa@yahoo.com Fax 770-961-6102. Our Website is undergoing reconstruction but can be view on onimainstituteusa.org

Thank you.

Omoh Tsatsaku Ojior, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
Executive Director/CEO

CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory, a division of CRISIL Risk and Infrastructure Solutions Limited, has been working very closely with the Government, Multilaterals and Private Developers, in structuring bankable projects and in managing the commercialisation programme in a transparent, objective and time-bound manner. CRISIL’s assistance spans across various infrastructure sectors including Tourism (Tourism Master Plan, Sector Policy, Policy and Transaction Advisory), Transport (Roads, Airports, Ports), Urban Infrastructure (Water, Waste, Housing, Industrial Parks, Urban Transport), Energy (Power, Coal, Oil & Gas), Telecom, Municipal Reform, Public Finance and Corporate.

We have closely worked with several multilateral and bilateral development institutions, such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Department of International Development, UK, USAID, Southern African Development Community and Canadian International Development Agency. Our international experience includes advising entities in Angola, Bhutan, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and Kenya.