[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E2077]]


           AWKA, NIGERIA--NEW SISTER CITY OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 31, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the new 
sister city partnership that is being established between Saginaw, MI, 
within my congressional district, and Awka, Nigeria. I want to welcome 
the visiting officials including His Royal Highness Chief Ikwe P. N. 
Anugwu, traditional ruler of Mbaukwa, and Chief Alex Ekwieme, former 
vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  Sister cities programs are familiar to many of us who appreciate the 
cultural bounty and value in having one of our communities establish a 
relationship with another community outside of the United States. The 
diversity of experiences, the history and richness of each other's 
traditions, and the feeling of partnership create a new tradition for 
both communities that enriches both communities equally.
  I am particularly happy for the young people of both Saginaw and Awka 
who now will have the opportunity to learn more about each other, 
developing understandings of and appreciations for each other that will 
help mold their abilities to be leaders in the future. Already several 
young people from Saginaw have experienced the wonders of traveling to 
another country, coming back feeling as if they have been treated as 
very special people, a feeling that will be with these young 
ambassadors for the rest of their lives.
  Two visits to Nigeria this year by officials of Saginaw and our young 
ambassadors have helped to pave the way for the sister city signing 
ceremony that will soon be held. Efforts to establish partnership 
programs that will have real impact on the lives of people in both 
Saginaw and Awka are underway. Affiliations between universities in 
both areas, including Saginaw Valley State University, will also have 
lasting value.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when we need to have greater understandings of 
diverse cultures and ways of life, at a time when we want our young 
people to be informed and see their intellectual capabilities grow, 
programs like Sister Cities are more important than ever before. I urge 
you and all of our colleagues to join me in wishing Saginaw and Awka a 
successful partnership, and offer the warmest welcome to our new 
friends from Nigeria.

                          ____________________