Expressing support for the recognition of Nigerian Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage, culture, and contributions of Nigerians and Nigerian Americans in the United States.

Expressing support for the recognition of Nigerian Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage, culture, and contributions of Nigerians and Nigerian Americans in the United States.

Whereas the United States is encouraged to recognize Nigerian Heritage Month to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Nigerians and Nigerian Americans to the Nation’s social, cultural, and economic fabric;

Whereas Nigeria achieved independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960, and Nigerian Independence Day has since become an annual celebration of Nigerian history, culture, heritage, and national identity both in Nigeria and throughout the Nigerian diaspora;

Whereas Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, home to more than 250,000,000 people and over 250 ethnic groups, including the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Tiv, Kanuri/Beri-Beri, Ibibio, Ijaw/Izon, and many others, reflecting extraordinary linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity;

Whereas the influence of Nigerian heritage extends throughout the United States, as millions of African Americans, Afro-Latinos, Caribbean Americans, and members of the broader African diaspora share ancestral, cultural, and historical connections to the peoples and regions that comprise present-day Nigeria, reflecting Nigeria’s enduring contributions to the cultural heritage, economic prosperity, civic life, and social fabric of the United States;

Whereas Nigeria’s early leadership included prominent statesmen such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a leading figure in Nigeria’s independence movement who came to the United States in 1925 to pursue higher education, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at American institutions, returned to Africa to advance the cause of self-determination and independence, and later became Nigeria’s first President when Nigeria became a Federal Republic in 1963, helping shape the nation’s early diplomatic engagement with the international community, with his inauguration attended by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reflecting the historic ties between Nigeria’s independence movement and the American Civil Rights Movement;

Whereas the relationship between the United States and Nigeria dates back to Nigeria’s independence in 1960, when the United States was among the first countries to formally recognize the newly independent Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1963 and establish diplomatic relations;

Whereas, since that time, Nigerian Americans have become one of the fastest-growing and most highly educated immigrant populations in the United States, contributing significantly to fields such as medicine, engineering, technology, education, law, public service, entrepreneurship, sports, and the arts;

Whereas Nigerian Americans have founded and led thousands of businesses across the United States, strengthening local economies and contributing to innovation, job creation, and community development;

Whereas the United States and Nigeria maintain a strong bilateral partnership rooted in shared democratic values, economic cooperation, regional stability, and security collaboration, including joint efforts to combat terrorism, advance prosperity, and promote peace and democracy in West Africa;

Whereas Nigeria remains one of the United States most important trading partners in Africa, with cooperation spanning energy, agriculture, education, public health, and cultural exchange;

Whereas Nigerians and Nigerian Americans have made extraordinary contributions to literature, science, medicine, technology, entertainment, sports, and the arts, including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka; renowned novelist Chinua Achebe, author of the seminal work Things Fall Apart, one of the most influential works of African literature; and Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti, the pioneering creator of Afrobeat, whose music, cultural influence, and advocacy for justice transformed global culture and continue to inspire audiences around the world;

Whereas the Nigerian Center, headquartered in Washington, DC, serves as a national institution dedicated to preserving, promoting, and advancing Nigerian heritage, culture, civic participation, and economic opportunity while fostering stronger connections among Nigerian Americans, the broader African diaspora, African Americans, Afro-Latinos, and all communities linked through shared African ancestry and cultural heritage;

Whereas, on October 1, 2022, Nigeria’s Independence Day, the Mayor of Washington, DC, officially recognized Nigerian American Day, marking an important milestone in the acknowledgment of Nigerian heritage and contributions at the municipal level;

Whereas multiple cities and jurisdictions across the United States, including Boston and New York City, have recognized Nigeria’s Independence Day through official proclamations, resolutions, and public celebrations;

Whereas Nigerian Independence Day is celebrated annually in several states, including Maryland, Texas, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, through parades, cultural festivals, and civic recognitions, reflecting the growing visibility and contributions of Nigerian Americans nationwide;

Whereas Nigerian Americans have enriched the cultural diversity of the United States, strengthening communities across all 50 States and contributing to civic life at every level of government and society; and

Whereas recognizing Nigerian Heritage Month will provide an opportunity to educate the American public about Nigerian history, deepen cultural understanding, and strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) supports the designation as Nigerian Heritage Month;

(2) celebrates the cultural, historical, and economic contributions of Nigerians and Nigerian Americans to the Nation;

(3) recognizes the importance of the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic, educational, and cultural ties;

(4) encourages Federal, State, and local governments, educational institutions, and cultural organizations to observe Nigerian Heritage Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that highlight Nigerian history, culture, and contributions; and

(5) honors the legacy, achievements, and ongoing contributions of Nigerian Americans to the prosperity, diversity, and strength of the United States.