Austin–At a signing ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 19, Austin Community College President Dr. Richard Fonté and His Excellency Chief Achike Udenwa, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria will sign an agreement to establish an ACC educational workforce training partnership with the Ministry of Education of Imo State, Nigeria in Old Orlu.
“I am especially excited about this international partnership with Africa, said Fonté. “This agreement with Governor Udenwa reaffirms our commitment to reach out to developing and emerging countries and to expand our global relationships beyond our already existing partnerships with Europe and Latin America.”
The event will be a double signing ceremony with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson establishing a new sister city relationship between Austin, Texas and Old Orlu, Imo, Nigeria. The agreement will be signed by Mayor Watson and Governor Udenwa, a native of Orlu, who will travel to Austin for this occasion.
“The occasion of this ceremony inaugurating Austin’s new sister city of Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria is a most exciting one,” stated Mayor Kirk Watson. “This relationship promises to become a key international connection for Austin and is certain to enrich our mutual understanding of each other’s cultures and strengthen the warm ties of friendship between our citizens.” The Austin City Council recently approved Orlu, Nigeria as Austin’s ninth sister city, and the second Sister City in Africa. Maseru, Lesotho was Austin’s first Sister City in Africa.
In the Austin area, there are an estimated 600 immigrants from Imo State alone, with many more in Texas, among a larger group of Nigerians. Many of the Imo immigrants work for the State of Texas, in professions or as entrepreneurs. A major goal of the new Austin-Old Orlu Sister City relationship is to encourage and facilitate economic development in Imo State, through encouraging investment there. Towards that end, an economic development mission to Imo State, Nigeria is planned for October 2001.
For more information about ACC’s international programs, please call Dr. Frank Schorn, director of the Center for International Programs, at 223-7819.
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