Nigerian Ambassador pays courtesy call to LERC

Thursday, 6th March 2008. LERC, NDU.

His Excellency Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Ambassador of Nigeria, paid a visit to the Lebanese Emigration Research Center, where he met with LERC’s Associate Director Ms. Guita Hourani and Vice President of Research and Development Dr. Assaad Eid.  His Excellency was then taken on a tour of the Lebanese Migration University Museum at NDU and was delighted to see the Nigerian collection displayed alongside those from Brazil and Mexico as well as the newly donated Colombian collection. His Excellency was then introduced to the LERC staff and shown a demonstration of the Lebanese Emigration Archives and Database (LEAD) system that the Center is currently building up. The Ambassador was very much impressed by LERC’s vision, publications and achievements. He expressed genuine interest in developing Lebanese-Nigerian social, cultural and commercial ties, and with regards to the large Lebanese community in Nigeria to create a general awareness about Nigeria amongst all Lebanese.  The possibility of creating a Memorandum of Understanding between LERC and some Nigerian universities as well as the potential exchange of academics was also discussed.

From left to right: H.E., the Ambassador of Nigeria explains a point to Elie Nabhan (LERC raporteur), Dr. Assaad Eid (NDU VPRD) and Guita Hourani, Associate Director of LERC while at the Lebanese Migration University Museum at NDU.

The Ambassador of Nigeria, H.E. Hammed A. Apeloyeru being welcomed to NDU by NDU VPRD Dr. Assaad Eid and Guita Hourani Associate Director of LERC.

The Ambassador of Nigeria, H.E. Hameed A. Opeloyeru (center) visits LERC's offices and listens to Lilian Haddad, Chief Index at LERC, while Guita Hourani, Associate Director of LERC looks on.