AFRIPOL.ORG IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
SERIES ON GREAT NIGERIANS
CHINEDU ECHERUO: AN INNOVATOR AND A VISIONARY
nytimes
A Nigerian immigrant, Chinedu Echeruo is the founder of HOPSTOP.COM an interactive online guide to navigating the New York city transit system. A Nigerian by birth and a New Yorker by choice. The man behind the innovation came to America with his family 16 years ago. He has an MBA degree from Harvard University.
Echeruo worked as an analyst at investment banks and hedge funds before the start of HopStop.
The internet technology website can also be accessed through a cellphone via a text message, voice and PDA. The office of HOPSTOP.COM is operated and based in the exclusive Park Avenue, Manhattan New York. This is the first of a kind in the world where both visitor and resident in New York can easily find their way in the complex subway transit by reaching out to this online interactive webscape.
Information and navigation in this online guide can be accessed in Spanish, French, Swahili, Chinese, German and Russian. HOPSTOP.COM is ready for the world and the world can’t wait!
Chinedu Echeruo said he would eventually extend it to all the major cities in America and the rest of the world especially those with intricate subway transit systems similar to New York. In the pipeline are expansion to Boston, Washington DC and New Jersey.
HOMEPROFESSOR GEORGE A. OBIOZOR: DIPLOMAT, SCHOLAR AND STATESMAN
His Excellency Professor George A. Obiozor is the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to United States of America, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary since July 15, 2004.
Before this position, he was the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the State of Israel, and High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus between 1999-2003.
Professor Obiozor was born in Nigeria, on 15th August, 1942. He received the BA Degree Summa Cum Laude at University of Puget Sound in 1969 and the MA and PhD Degrees at Columbia University in 1974 and 1976 respectively.
Between 1964 to 2003, Professor Obiozor has held many important positions in Nigerian government and academia including Senior Research Fellow at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Director-General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs between (1991-1999).
Professor Obiozor has written many books and articles on Nigeria’s foreign policy, international affairs, and diplomatic politicking. His vast experience and profound knowledge in diplomacy has become a great asset in rebuilding Nigerian image and the relationship with America. Obiozor is married with children.
Notable Quotations by Professor Obiozor
ON APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA:
“Nigeria was part of the frontline of African states struggling against apartheid in the 1970s, and relations with the U.S. were not very good, but since the end of apartheid, the relationship has become more defined in terms of political development, particularly with the Bush administration.”
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ON HIV/AIDS:
“In fact, the Bush administration has surprised Africa by doing so many positive things. The evidence is there. The Millennium Goal set by the administration has been positive and quite unexpected—and above all is the diversion of $15 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in Africa.”
ON NIGERIAN DEVELOPMENT:
“The number-one challenge for Nigeria is to make this leap from Third World to First World as soon as possible,” the ambassador says. “This is extremely important for the present government. We have started laying the foundations for Nigeria’s irreversible takeoff to become a modern, stable and viable nation.”
Selected CURRICULUM VITAE
UNIVERSITY, COLLEGES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WITH DATES:
Columbia University, New York, U.S.A. 1969 - 1976
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. - 1976-1969
Albert Schweitzer College, Corcelles-Sur-Chavonay - 1966-1967
Institute of African Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
(Tutorial under Professor Rene Wadlow) - 1967
Awo-Omamma Comprehensive Secondary School
Awo-Omamma, Oru, East L.G.A., Imo State - 1959-1963
ACADEMIC DEGREES AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
1998 Appointed visiting Professor in International Affairs, African Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, The Russian Federation.
Ph.D. 1976 Department of Political Science, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. Specialisation: International Affairs.
M. Phil, 1974 Department of Political Science, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA, Specialisation: International Affairs.
M.I.A. 1971 School of International Affairs, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. Specialisation: International Law and International Organisations.
B.A. 1969 University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, USA Specialisation: Political Science and History.
1966-1967 Albert Schweitzer College, Corcelles-Sur-Chavonay, Vaud, Switzerland.
WASC 1963 Awo-Omamma Comprehensive Secondary School, Awo-Omamma., Oru East Local Govt. Area, Imo State.
BOOKS:
* The Politics of Precarious Balancing: An Analysis of Contending Issues in Nigerian - Domestic and Foreign Policy (1994), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
* Nigerian Participation in United Nations (1985), Fourth Dimension, Enugu, Nigeria.
* Uneasy Friendships: Nigeria-United States Relations (1992), Fourth Dimension, - Enugu, Nigeria.
* Basic Issues in Nigerian Foreign Policy: IBB Foreign Policy Pronouncements (1986-1991), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria.
* Nigerian Foreign Policy in Perspective: Admiral Augustus Akhomu's Foreign Policy Statements from (1987-1992), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
* The United States and the Nigerian Civil War: An American Dilemma in Africa (1993), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs 9NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
* Nigeria's Vision 2010: Agenda for the Nation (1997), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Nigeria.
ARTICLES:
* The United Nations Decade for Women 1976-1985. Forum, September/October 1985.
* Apartheid and Nigerian Foreign Policy. Forum, January/February 1984.
* Political Development in the Republic of Cameroon. Forum, March/April 1984.
Series of Articles in 1977 on Nigerian Foreign Policy in the Daily Times - October,1977:
* Towards a Dynamic Foreign Policy for Nigeria.
* Nigeria and the Soviet Union.
* Nigeria and the Middle East Crisis.
Also:
* Black Americans and the United States Foreign Policy. Africa Encounter, April, 1978.
* Problems of Political Leadership in Nigeria.. The Guardian, 15th February, 1984.
* Crisis and Continuity in Nigerian Foreign Policy Directions. The Democrat, 30th September, 1984.
* Time Running out for U.S. Policy on Africa. The Democrat, 11th November, 1984.
* Nigeria's Response to Recent Initiative by South Africa. Presented at the Institute Seminar, 10th August, 1984.
* Arguments why Nigeria should Re-establish Diplomatic Relations with Israel (1986)
HONOURS AND AWARDS:
Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, June 1969
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship - 1969-1971.
Alice Stetten Fellowship at Columbia University, School of International Affairs - 1969-1971.
Columbia University, Graduate Fellowship - 1971-1975.
Chimes Cup for Service to Fellow Students - 1969.
Ugwumba 1 of Orlu - (1991).
SOURCE: Nigerian Embassy website
