Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Nov. 3, 1979, edition 1 / Page 15
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SAT.. K2VE1S2ERJ.1379 f- . Doing Business ia Clack Africa . Necessary Numbers ia Nigeria Colonists went to African countries for one reason only to make money. More money than they could honestly have at home. Nigerians, like black Americans, need not apologize for their abused past. Profit making nut in its proper prospective-can lead to viable and equitable economic growth or evil exploitation of the masses ;.;i"'--v u- ;. ' .v';. ; :":r:-. However, it is not every day that a nation has the op portunity of opting for either action. As of October 1, 1979, Nigeria with its new civilian government, with an emphasis on free enterprise, has come face to face with these two choices. The 1980s look good considering the eighty million people market, multiplied by 2.2 million barrels of petroleum per day at almost $30 a barrel, ergo a pot of gold to the astute businessman or investor in Nigeria; Onyeme Ugochuku, editor of The Business Times, Nigeria's only national business newspaper, says "profit are very attractive in Nigeria, a lot of money is to be made' even for a small investor. Mr. Ugochuku, a young wealthy individual, quotes after tax profits margins from sixty to 200 per cent a year from many in vestments. Mr. Ugochuku, should know since he is intimately Bosfaoss- Intho Dladli By Charles E. Belle knowledgeable about Ugochuku and Sons, one of the 'largest publicly owned companies in the country and the tonly one listed in Nigeria by Business Week, its 'International corporate scoreboard: 1978" July 23, ,1979 edition. - Mr. Ugochuku, who thinks the rapid growth of the Nigerian economy of 1973-74 "would have been a miracle if (Nigeria) could have sustained it," is still op timistic about the future. Industrial incentives, tax credits and preferential loan treatment by the Nigerian Central Bank are expected to combine to ignite 'economic prosperity through profitable business ven , tuxes. , Mr. Ugochuku believes the "present governement has been very anxious to get Americans down there (to Nigeria)." There are three areas which beckon businessmen to invest in and help develop that country. j Breweries, where the "returns are running very close to 1 100 per cent, bottling of soft drinks, even with price ' control make-up to sixty per cent return" and cement companies, where even the "largest company had a '.return of around forty per cent last year." ? Mr. Ugochuku, says "the whole country is wide open so long as he (the investor) is going to manufacture, operate a brewery bottling plant, food processing, : shoes, clothes, such as ready to wear garments or pro duce paper products. Profitable business ventures do abound in Nigeria. But a few practical rules for all business people who might visit the country. Number one a Nigerian partner who is operating in the business being sought is a necessity for easy credit and good credibility in the country. Number two, don't, repeat, do not pay "dash." "Dash" is the cancer from the colonialist r ms government and i which unfortunately only begin to K. deal with the higher officials to govr business. : ; -r ' It is the dream of alt concerned that "dash will be 'done away with by the newly -decied foverornen! of ' ficials. "Dash" as discussed to the streets ' a payment for "intended? services. Tips and bribery are at lea for services rendered. Doing a "dash" trip met only runs up costs which are not expensable on the books, but also does not guarantee a contract for business anyway! R ulc number three is hive pat ieiKe. Xepeat, patience!! Take your lime, after all the colonialists still haven't left Africa, ask any one who has been to Sooth Africa! Rule number four, find the government official to charge of the area investment. ' i::-y , Mr. Ugochuku points out that the "government is ilw major engine of work in the (Nigerian) economy ." Each of the nineteen states, like the. U.S. rm its own ministries for making investment decuionv The mam man to make friends with is. the chief todust rial officer, usually found in the ministry of trade and investments. This individual is charged with approving all govern ment participations in investments in .the respective states. Standing around a hotel lobby In Larov hoping for a telephone call for a contract is like standing around Wass Street hoping for a handout. Hopetev.. The deterioration of America's cities is one of this country's major problems. Terrible environmental con ditions are the fate of hundreds of thousands of America's poor who live within our larger cities. For more than three decades families have been mdving out of cities in search of better housing, better schools and a suitable environment in which to rear their children. Landlords in inner cities are abandoning tenement buildings. The redlining policies of some banks and in surance companies make it impossible to secure loans for repair and maintenance. The paradox is that such conditions are really unnecessary in America where the resources, manpower and technology are so abundant. In order to change conditions in our cities, we have to first start at the neighborhood level. The United Neighborhood Centers of America has always ad vocated the rebuilding of neighborhoods. Now, more than ever, we are advocating a greater effort and finan cial assistance for neighborhoods to help themselves. . It is our view that problems of our cities such as economic insecurity, stress, tension, violence and indeed crime can be reduced substantially, if sufficient numbers of people who are currently unemployed and who view the future with dismay and despair can be ef fectively involved in rebuilding their neighborhoods. Settlements and neighborhood centers have, in many instances, made the difference between success or failure in neighborhood improvment programs through their help in organizing neighborhood groups and through the provision of technical and other supportive assistance. Settlements and neighborhood centers can ! By Walter L. Smart play a crucial role in helping neighborhood residents to become effective partners. A case in point is the effort of the Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements, a member of United Neighborhood Centers of America. The GPFS has made remarkable efforts to bring housing rehabilitation to the community at a personaliz ed level rarely achieved. Unemployed youth have been trained and utilized to rehabilitate housing. By teaching unemployed, disadvantaged youth marketable skills in home reconstruction, the GPFS is not only strengthen ing neighborhoods, but is also removing possible of fenders from the streets and providing an example for others to follow. In Philadelphia, the buildings being rehabilitated were built in the 1800's in some cases. They were typical of other buildings in inner city areas in that they were occupied by low income people, and that even such vital functions as garbage collection has been neglected. If 4he$e buildings were allowed to exist in their rundown condition, then at a certain point, entire buildings and neighborhoods would have to be destroyed. When something like that is done, the social fabric of the com munity is disrupted with major reprecussions on the lives of individuals and families. In Philadelphia, the GPFS is working in housing rehabilitation in collabora tion with the Philadelphia Area Manpower Planning Council and the Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development. The GPFS rehabilitation programs include the Home Improvement Program, People Employed Rehabilitating Communities, and Ventures in Com munity Improvement. Funding came from sources such as CETA, Title IV, and funds from the Office of Youth Programs, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Philadelphia Area Manpower Planning Council- The programs addressed concerns such as these: The need for rehabilitation of homes occupied by low income people. The need for training and employment of youths in home repair and rehabilitation skills. The lack of adequate knowledge and skills as ihc part of many homeowners in home manvenance ami repair. - '. ' The unemployment and lack of cmptoynwH and training opportunities for semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the construction trades. The widespread unemployment of skilled union workers in construction trades.' . The problems of our cities are very complex indeed. No community with such high IcstIs of unemployed residents can achieve the quality of life it deserves and desires unless neighborhood resident themselves d the difficult job of utilizing their resources foi constructive purposes. People have to be made aware of the fact thai results from one's efforts can be extremely rewarding in countless ways. If unemployed youths are trainc! f reconstruct dilapidated buildings, then tncy develop many new qualities. These persons develop skills wliivii are saleable in the future. In rebufldina their hr i apartments not only are useful skills dcxelxd. bm meaningful and satifying experiences are provided. Most of all, children who live in the neighborhood would perceive such adults and- youths as leaders and doers as models they wpuld want to cntu!-tc. The problem of our great cities js primarily one o? resources, poor communication and 'uncnpli"C per sons being unable to find meaningful enirUmm." t there is a lcoal neighborhood. Center .r vcttlcnttnt in your city seek it out. No agency can e' 'ecu v!v be'p in solving neighborhod problems wjtttoT.i the acive par ticipation of the members of its community. Is Black Support of PLO A Ploy? The talk among blacks here in Washington is that when the President fired Andy Young for conferring with the PLO, the Southern Christian Leadership Con ference (SCLC), then in convention, though of ways to get back at Carter and the Jew$ who allegedly blewe the whistle. Some swear that the SCLC dug down deep into Mar- meant rushing to New York for an open conference with Shedi Labib Terri, U.N. Observer for the PLO. That ought to shake Carter up as well as anger the Jews, they postulated. r And to further increase the tension say insiders, the SCLC hit upon the idea of sending a delegation to Lebanon tq chat, with Chairman Yasser Arafat and in vite him to America. This should embarrass Carter and put Prime Minister Begin in sweat, as well as gain need ed publicity to restore the old SCLC sparkel of King's heydays, they concluded. f be -Black Sid off Tfeliamitfon By Sherman Brisco The Rev. Jesse Jackson, not to be outwitted by the of Jericho to gain the land in the first place; arid even SCLC, whrc&siw dividing: ,wsincoihS;b9y, thetfmHstine giant;.- tin tVtr mark Pnn fnnrl tnmf vearc afffl. Cleaned, sav ,.r lim wars huxie naprl . r?r"i t. Washingtonians, that he, too, would cash in on this publicity gimmick. ...'.'' But unlike Fauntroy and Lowery, he tried to cover his backside by going with the secret blessings of the Presi dent and by landing in Israel first with the hope of hav ing its endorsement as well. But observers here in the capital say neither the SCLC nor Jackson really achieved anything of importance, or expected to. After all as ministers, they know how long this struggle has been going on in the Middle East. It's been. 3,500 years since Joshua marched around the walls 3,000 years have passed Africans' Sad View of America Among the ten Nigeiran journalists who have spent three weeks in America working for black newspapers across the country is the leader of the group, youthful Richard Ikiebe, a feature writer on the Daily Times group of Lagos. Publisher John L. Procope of the New York Amster dam News, o which Mr. Ikiebe was assigned, asked him to write an article for the Amsterdam News, giving his impressions of America. Here in part is what the Nigerian journalist had to say: "What does anyone expect to see in a 2W year-old 'no-man's-land' built on the sweat of the bl;;ck man. the shrewdness of the Jews, and , the su vrcssion (annihilation would be a better word of the Indians." Continuing, Mr. Ikiebe said.L, expected more. I have seen less. Sure I didn't expect a paradiv.. but I thought that America was rich enough to provide foo! and shelter for all her sons and daughters. "1 thought it was rich enough to care for her acd." ".But I have seen Harlem." iriThen he, -added: "I have, stxrt aged bcsgais on the main streets of Washington begging for a dime 10 hu ti cup of coffee ( a dime would only make a down pay ment on a 35 cents cup of coffee). "Sure," he continues, "there are poor people in Nigeria, but they can still carry . their heads hii wiih sense of human dignity and acceptance.;; Had Mr. Ikiebe had time to take a closer look ai America, he would have seen more of the shameful low -rent housing projects and denigrating food stamps. But he must have sensed these -'by "merely looking into the eyes of beggers in the nation's capital and by opening his nostrils to smell the" poverty in Harlem. Which Is The Better Way, Durham? By AsaT. Spaulding, Sr. These are times when such emphasis is being put on leadership on the local, state, and national level without much specificity on the kind of leadership sought. There are many genera of would be leaders: some good and some bad; some with limited vision; some with blurred vision; some with clear vision; and some with no vision of where it wants to go and how to get there. What kind of leadership does Durham want and need? Is it "one cause" or broad gauged leadership? Agreement on this could be essential to the best choice of our electorate: and especially where it can be found. Because I ve Durhai: an:' my roots have gone down deeper an t ;icep?r in its i! lor nore than sixty years, I, too, im ji:a!ou? of its image nd reputation, and con cerned i'CoM its future leadership. Diui c.m ' iio-.v a the fork of its road to the future. Will 1 cho-'.c to follow the high road of balanced gro.ii and development in an environment of har mony, or take detours through hostility and divisivencs7 The product of div.iiveness is retardation if not failure. Ti much of either can lead to stagnation; and too much stagnation can pollute the community with dire const iuences. ... . Following detours may lead to dead-end mazes of disappointment and frustrations with the boomerangs being injurious to the total community. Is it wise in an emotion of outrage, no matter how well intentioned, to "strike at the wind"? Or to sow seec s of dissention in the winds to return at harvest time in whirlwinds of retaliation? There will be times when all citizens of Durham will need each other again. Can we move Durham forward faster and further by pulling apart rather than pulling together? I believe not. If not, why not try better communication and coopera tion? An Old Testament Prophet has reminded us that "it is not by might nor by power, bjt by my Spirit, said the Lord." Might and power may prevail for "a sef.s m", but a nobler spirit has more cohesive and en duii' g qualities. I have lived long enough, traveled far enough, probed deep enough, observed widely enough,r and lifted by vi sion high enough to be convinced that there are both universal and eternal truths which must be reckoned wjth; end that "truth crushed to earth will ris again."- On what foundation will Durham build and rest its I ut ure? I hope she will think soberly; plan carefully; and choose wiselv so that she might truly, move forward together, and for more than "a season"! 't j The spades of the archeologists and geologists have revealed over and over again the rise and fall of nations, empires, and civilizations built upon might and power, but which are no more. In my welcoming remarks at the dedication of the new home office building of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company on April 2, 1966. I hepan by saying: Mr. Vice President, Governoi Moore, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other distinguished ladies and gentlemen This is an outstanding demonstration of Togetherness on all levels.. .We have been witnessing here for these two days a testimonial to the new day which has dawned in America.. . and ro which 50 many have - contributed so much. This building stands here as an eloquent witness to the indomitable determination of the American Negro to take full advantage of his opportuntiies in our democracy, and under the free enterprise system, to win his way in American life with dignity and honor. This message and the news of the event were heralded around the world by the USIA and other networks and the printed page; thereby focusing national and interna tional attention on Durham, North Carolina. Not only while traveling in Africa and other parts of the world subsequently, but even now I continue to encounter benef icient image results for Durham in my travels. This is an example of what working together can accomplish for all. Which way Durham? Which way North Carolina? Which way America? Which way world? Punishment Continued from Page 14J its way so deeply into the educational system that even some black teachers oppress black and white working class students. The time has come to end the oppression of students in the public schools of Durham, whether they be black or white working class. The time has come when educators, black and white, must learn to regard students black and whtte as the inheritors and carriers of potential greatness, as the creators of a human tomorrow. The destructive and barbarous practice of cor poral punishment in the Durham public schools must end. Candidates Continued from Front the East-West) Expressway. However, Mrs. Keller states that her opposition to the expressway is unique in that she feels that the express way extension will become 140 once it is completed. The transportation prob lem in Durham was another much discussed issue. Both Ms. Burton and Bland ex pressed a need for better transportation. Ms. Burton said that . school pupils, handicapped persons or the elderly cannot rely on Dur li;ns poor transportation syflam to get to their desti nations. Holt and Barney West, candidate for Ward 4, be lieve that there should be negotiation with Duke' Power to improve trans portation. Ms. Burton ex pressed a need for a mass transit system. When someone in the audience inquired of Ro denhizer as to whether or not he had paid taxes on his property, he appeared to become angry. In a strained voice, Rodenhizer Save a lengthy statement of ow his taxes had been mis construed. Another ques tion to Rodenhizer inquired as to why blacks considered him to be a racist since he had served on the Durham Human Relations Commis sion. Rodenhizer answered that he "had trouble; with' some of Durham's . black leaders." He did not clarify: whether or not by "trouble" he meant that he doubts about this leadership or that he had conflict with black leadership. In a subsequem inter view with Rodenhizer, he? said that he didn't say he had "trouble" but 'a difference of cjiinioR with black leaders'. The g:nerai electji-n will be held Tuesday, November 6, when voters will choose' a new mayor for Durham and cpuncujmen for three at large seats and three ward seets on the Durham City Council. Th eounsellinff orocnuns. shelter and guidance toward a better life offered to all by The Salvation Army can help many troubled people find answers to their prob lems, good feelings about themselves and peace of mind. William Douglas served on the Supreme Court for 36 years -longer than any other justice in history. (fl Hull hmli Thi book la creating lot cd Wertsi! m lad. In Durham M Orange OounHaa. r creat ing more interest Miaft any -other tank or Saving a Loan passbook. At FM CapM, 9 on regular paubopk. savings Is no laky tale. reaitty that wakee a dtWeite m how qutckty your, tavinge accumulate. S Join the First Captor Passbook CM) ri rywBvenappiiyi Passbook Qy,,, Twe-Yeer tWYeer iYeer Savings certificate CertUfcata Certificate Certjfirete lien "mm mmt- - mm No Mw pfrt wrt nm ifcswswDejmii Mirtwi Pnw iBimKUm YkM: Yield: W. Yield: Northgo Moll. Dvifco N. C N.t to a'i)i Ata-WiM.tfrfc,lSA.UCke 1
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Nov. 3, 1979, edition 1
15
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