URI staff in San Francisco warmly welcomed New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation CC founder Dr. Emmanuel Ivorgba to the Bay Area from Jos, Nigeria last week, just before he was set to receive an award from the Dalai Lama.
After meeting with the overjoyed, smiling faces of URI, Emmanuel set off to receive the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award from the His Holiness the Dalai Lama, later speaking at Santa Clara University and at Stanford, where he joined students in a viewing of the award-winning documentary, Project Happiness, in which he is featured.
A passionate youth leader, educator, and peacebuilder, Emmanuel has worked hard to ease tension between Christians and Muslims, Igbo and Hausa, and the rich and the poor in Nigerian communities torn apart by generations of religious and tribal division.
As a youth, Emmanuel was accepted into seminary school for his secondary education, originally intending to become a Catholic priest. But his love of learning propelled him into earning university degrees in computer engineering and information technology. Later, he would receive a PhD in Philosophy and Religion.
To all who have had the privilege of working with Emmanuel, his dedication to helping his fellow Nigerians and the world is profound; his vision for a better future boundless and inspiring. Emmanuel also serves as the West Africa Liaison Officer for URI West Africa, and was joined by URI Africa Regional Coordinator Mussie Hailu in San Francisco.
The passionate yet humble educator and activist sat down with URI to speak about his vision for his CC, New Era, and for Creative Minds International Academy, a values-based school that he also founded.
URI: What was it like to receive an award from the Dalai Lama?
Emmanuel: Receiving the Unsung Heroes Award from His Holiness the Dalai Lama—it is a feeling that is difficult to express in words. I had the privilege of meeting with His Holiness in 2007. That meeting inspired and challenged me to embark on my current work and to have him honor me seven years after. I am deeply humbled, grateful and inspired all the more. The award for me, therefore, is not a recognition for work done, but an invitation to be a greater service to humanity.
URI: What motivated you to create New Era and Creative Minds Academy?
Emmanuel: I have always wanted to see people happy, to be able to put smiles on the faces of people, and to have the privilege and experience of seeing people find fulfillment, happiness and satisfaction as a result of my modest efforts and contributions. New Era and Creative Minds Academy have given me the platforms to achieve this, especially working with young people and providing them the opportunities to discover and actualize their potential, as well as to be useful to themselves and to their communities.
I believe that, in the end, when our lives are evaluated, we will discover that it is not the money in our bank accounts, the mansions we have built for ourselves, the degrees beside our names, or our illustrious careers that will be most memorable, but the love, compassion and support that we share with others. This is the legacy I intend to leave for this word.
URI: New Era creates programs in interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, youth leadership, alcohol and drug use prevention, and poverty alleviation, is this correct?
Emmanuel: Yes, this is correct. One of our greatest global impacts and recent accomplishments is our 65 -minute coproduction of DIALOGUE IN NIGERIA: Muslims & Christians Creating Their Future, in 2012. This hope-filled documentary gives voices and faces to 200 courageous Muslims and Christians, very diverse young women and men, who unite successfully in Jos, central Nigeria. Refusing to become enemies, they join together during days and evenings of the 2010 International Conference on Youth and Interfaith Communication.
They are tense yet excited to finally cross lines of religion, economics, tribe, and gender to transcend the status quo and discover empathy for each other's personal life experiences. Together they realize that "an enemy is one whose story we have not heard," while listening-to-learn and thus dignifying themselves and the "others."
Face to face and in small circles, they begin with icebreakers and continue in depth to discover one another's equanimity and humanity—fear, grief, needs, hopes, and concrete plans for a shared future. These determined young Nigerians illustrate how others worldwide can successfully connect and communicate to create authentic community.
Our annual international conference on Youth and Interfaith Dialogue is now in its sixth year. The International Conference brings together community members, including representatives of CSOs and faith-based groups within Nigeria and globally, to foster mutual respect between diverse ethnic and religious groups. Furthermore, it serves to support civil society and individuals who seek non-violent approaches to conflict and strive toward a shared future.
URI: What have you found valuable in your connections and partnerships through URI?
Emmanuel: The cooperative spirit, solidarity and support of the URI leadership and members are overwhelming. The sense of belonging to a family where everyone is willing to help—there can be nothing greater than this.
In response to the wonderful news of Emmanuel’s award, the URI family congratulated Emmanuel on this exciting accomplishment:
Potre Diampuan, SEAPac Regional Coordinator, said, “Thank you and congratulations for making URI shine! I feel so proud!”
“Hearty congrats,” said Abraham Karickam, URI Asia Executive Secretary. “You deserve it. We are proud of you.”
Monica Willard, of URI at the UN CC, said, “Congratulations Emmanuel Ivorgba! What a special award. Your work is amazing.”
Jinwol Lee, Regional Coordinator for Korea, said, “Thank you for the note and good news. Congratulations to Emmanuel and appreciation for the wonderful service in compassion.”
Jahangir Piara of Organization for Peace and Development in Lahore, Pakistan, said, “Many congratulations to Emmanuel for this award. God bless you.”
“Emmanuel deserves it with all due honesty,” said Despina Namwembe, URI Great Lakes Regional Coordinator in Africa. “He is such a peace builder and compassionate person, more than anyone would wish for. Congratulations, dear Emmanuel, and my sincere best wishes to you and the work that you are doing.”
URI Global Trustee in Africa Elisha Buba Yero said, “You have touched lives and brought success to many, you sure deserve the best! Our prayers are with you.”
