WELCOME TO MILA RICH FOUNDATION

Richard writes:

Richard

I will never forget what an Irishman once said to me when we rubbed minds about Africa. The man was eager to know the roles of Africans in Diaspora towards uplifting the living standards of those living in today’s Africa. I began by explaining that the prevalent jet age is tantamount to pressure the political elite to stir the continent in the right direction. My argument lends credence from the fact that the era of globalisation informs the populace about their rights to good governance. I gave an example of various media outlets that stimulate debates on definitive acts of governance and those that have taken stands to expose the excesses of corrupt leadership.  

“But all we hear is talk, talk and more talk”, the man blurted halfway into my analysis.

“All talk and no action will do Africa little good.” He continued.

“Just do something, no matter how small. Go out there and do something now. Affect your generation by acting now.”

This commandment hunted me for days without end. I often wondered through what means I could play a part. Little did I know that the opportunity would come sooner than I anticipated.

It was on the grounds of The University (Trinity College) of Dublin that Mila Rich Foundation (MRF) was first conceived. I was in my final year when providence made it possible for me to meet Ms Kamila Lukaszewicz. She came to Trinity as an ERASMUS student from a Polish University in Poznan. Kamila from day one demonstrated genuine interest in Africa. I was excited to meet someone who could debate the way forward for African youths. In between lecture times, we usually met on either the grounds of the Arts Block or in the Cricket pitch to delve into the African cause. During breaks in the Buttery or in the Pavilion, we seized every moment to pick at random any country in the continent to decipher issues not just politically related but  economy, welfare, environment and so forth.

We resolved that to offer a clear cut opportunity to prospective African students that desire to study abroad may well serve as a beginning point. We reasoned that foreign higher education institutions (HEIs) will not only broaden their horizon but empower the present day African youths to face the challenges of our time. We perceived education given its private and social returns to be like a double barrel weapon that achieves more than one target. Just like using one stone to kill two birds, if you know what I mean.  

The first step we took in that summer, 2008, was to travel to Nigeria. We were fortunate to meet Ambassador Grzegorz Walinski of the embassy of Poland in Nigeria.  The invaluable advice from the ambassador led to the official registration of MRF in Nigeria. Dr Walinski suggested that MRF should focus on partnering with foreign HEIs to train prospective students who will eventually return back on completion of their studies. This means, to develop a scheme that involves working with a prospective student from the beginning of her/his decision to study abroad till such student resettles at home at the completion of studies.

The MRF Office welcomes all 3rd level education students.

The Training Centre:

The ultra-modern office has a training centre that is equipped to run periodic orientation courses for prospective students and their sponsors. We lay emphasis on the fact that the decision to study in Europe must transcend mere ambition to get out of the country. 

The orientation course tends to:

• Answer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that usually impede the decisions of those desirous to study abroad 

• Educate prospective students on the requirements of the European HEIs with emphasis on interpretation of eligibility criteria.

• Provide general information on how to process a study visa.

The Library/Resource Centre is also frequently used by students because it has a collection of prospectuses, brochures, flyers and other printed matter of various foreign HEIs.

The centre stocks maps, posters and other informational booklets of major cities in the world. It also provides information on socio- cultural differences amongst nations.

So, the story is only just beginning. MRF is laying its foundation in Nigeria but the overall picture is so extend the model to the entire length and width of Africa. We intend to broaden the horizon of many youths be they in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, to mention but a few. 

OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES include:

1. Human capital accumulation.
2. To establish, maintain, support and assist educational and socio-economic foundation and vocational training.
3. To promote socio-cultural integration between African students and their peers in foreign countries.
4. To promote a development assistant programme aimed at providing job opportunities to the youths.
5. To serve as a veritable platform for promoting best practices in creative human empowerment.
6. To motivate youths to attain robust educational trainings and to appreciate the dignity of labour.

Who knows, MRF might just become another milestone towards building the required Human Capital necessary to boost development in Africa.

The journey continues!

Richard Njoku
Tel: +353 87 769 6668
Email: njokur@tcd.ie