CONFERENCE OF GLOBALIZATION

PLANNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION

THEME: GLOBALIZATION AND ITS EFFECTS:

CHARTING A TRUE COURSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLACK RACE

CONVENERS:
Centre for Black Culture & International Understanding, Nigeria, in collaboration with institutions with similar objectives.

PROPOSED PARTNERS/SPONSORS:
UN (Proposed) Institute for African Culture & International Understanding, Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Governments of Foreign Nations; African Development Bank; The World Bank/IMF; International Aid Agencies and Corporate Organizations etc (Proposed)

PROPOSED STRATEGIC COLLABORATION:
The African Union; ECOWAS; Organizations with similar objectives: Osun State University, Nigeria; The University of Bayreuth & Iwalewa-haus, Germany; Brazilian Cultural Center; African Union, ECOWAS; Multilateral organizations

PROPOSED PARTICIPANTS:
United Nations; UNESCO; the African Union, The World Bank/IMF; the Traditional Institution; Heads of Government (Invited); The World Conference of Mayors (Invited) The United States Black Congressional Caucus; Organization of American States; The Commonwealth Organization; G-7; Cultural Organizations in Brazil and other South American Nations; and the global community.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
THE SECOND GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK NATIONALITIES is a follow-up to the First Global Conference of Black Nationalities organized by the Centre for Black Culture & International Understanding, which took place in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The Global Conference of Black Nationalities IS NOT ABOUT RACE; but an invitation to participants - black intelligentsia, non-black academics, as well as, the global vanguard of culture to discuss the effects of Globalization, as upheld by the United Nations and its specialized agencies that preach the articulation of a common vision, strategies and programmes for global development. Part of the noble objectives includes international cooperation, following the path of peace, tolerance and dialogue. Globalization emphasizes a changed world environment for total development of humanity. The emerging world order tends to suggest that for Globalization to be meaningful, there must be concrete efforts to uphold diversity, dignity, tolerance, pluralism and democratic principles, within the context of globalization.

Without any doubt, inequality poses a great danger to mankind. According to a UNDP Report, the richest one per cent of the world population now owns about 40 per cent of the world’s assets, while the bottom half owns not more than one percent! The report further states that: “Confronting inequality in developing countries shows that if left unchecked, could undermine the very foundations of development. It is evident that for the world to experience progress and peace, prejudices to other cultures, and other negative impediments must be removed. Good governance is equally one of the major prerequisites. Political disputes must be minimized, if not totally eradicated, to allow for global development and fruitful implementation of the agenda of globalization as programmed by the United Nations. Essentially, that means the developed and developing world must cooperate for the emergence of a better society premised on peace, equity, justice and good governance which would bring about rapid development of all parts of the world under a cooperative arrangement.

MODALITIES:
THE SECOND GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK NATIONALITIES is an open constructive dialogue about inequalities, undemocratic, non-consultative, and non-transparent origins, structures, and patterns of engagement in the implementation of the agenda of Globalization and how best to ensure that the agenda profits all part of the world. The Second Global Conference of Black Nationalities will take a critical look at the positive potentials of open discussions on globalization and its effects as a means of evaluating the success of the programme, as embraced by the whole world. In particular, the conference would gauge the influence of globalization on the black race. The forum would afford the participants the opportunity of identifying and mobilizing towards a common agenda of elevating the Black Race and Black Diaspora.

AREAS OF DISCUSSION:
Globalization & Its Implementation – An Overview
The Post-2015 UN Agenda for Global Development
Africa & African Diaspora: Identification and Mobilization Towards a Common Agenda of Sustainable Development

OTHER KEY EVENTS INCLUDE:
• Access to and/or Participation in an Exhibition of Black Arts and Culture from across the globe
• Performances by Black/African performers and cultural troupes, including film shows
• Interactions with the Press and access to representatives of invited Global leaders
• Interaction with visiting dignitaries from several nations and corporate leaders for investment and economic development.
• Special reception

OUTCOMES AND CONTRIBUTIONS:
The outcomes and contributions of the conference include the following:
• Contribute to the global soul-searching given globalization and the “new” expectations of the Black Race for more prominent contributions.
• Contribute to efforts at shaping a new world order by the United Nations
• Development of a database of participants and resources to be shared and used to galvanize and stimulate development, promote better implementation of the globalization agenda and peace through collaboration, networking and resource sharing
• Stimulate actions towards bridging the gap between the developed and developing world.
• Promote discourse on the redistribution of wealth to close the gap between the rich and poor peoples of the world
• Development of a common agenda for the promotion of Globalization
• Promote global peace; economic collaboration and development

PROGRAMMES/AGENDA:
The Conference agenda is designed to accommodate all deliverables and participants and its key components were as follows:

• Key-Note Addresses to be spread and include notable speakers from different backgrounds/nations
• Exhibitions by artistes, corporations, countries, NGOs, etc.
• Cultural Dances/Performances at Receptions
• Academic Presentations
• Pre-Scheduled Meetings with dignitaries and decision makers (participants)
• Leadership Forum, Bridging gaps, and global understanding
• Developing an Agenda for the Future

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & PUBLICATION OF JOURNALS
CBCIU exists to anchor firmly, the role of culture in sustainable development policies, to give greater recognition to cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogues, for cohesion, in a pluralistic world. CBCIU is also providing appropriate and coherent linkages with relevant initiatives at the sub-regional and regional levels. Essentially, the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding is a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization, operating in line with the mandates of UNESCO. It has linkages with organizations with similar objectives, tertiary and research institutions, locally and abroad. It is affiliated to the Institute for African Culture & International Understanding, Abeokuta. CBCIU has the mandate to boost research activities, particularly about the Black race. CBCIU is also concerned with promoting interactions among cultures. Its major objective is the promotion of inter-religious and cultural dialogues as well as fostering international peace and understanding.

It is giving greater recognition to cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, including its inter-religious component in order to reinforce social cohesion in Nigeria's pluralistic society and beyond. This is aside promoting reciprocal knowledge, understanding, appreciation and respect in the region and beyond through a systematic networking with other national, regional and international institutions. In particular, contents of Journals and publications of CBCIU are fashioned to anchor firmly, the role of culture in sustainable development policies, in order to give greater recognition to cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogues for cohesion in a pluralistic society like Nigeria. CBCIU is also providing appropriate and coherent linkages with relevant initiatives at the sub-regional and regional levels.

PUBLICATIONS
CBCIU intends to engage and collaborate with institutions with similar objectives, the academia and other interested organizations to compile and publish scholarly materials as widely available within Africa, and circulate beyond Africa to promote issues pertaining to the continent in the international community. This could be through co-publication, subsidized co-publication, offering favourable rights terms to local publishers, distribution through local publishers on the continent, or charitable donation. CBCIU publishes the conclusions of its conferences for distribution globally, in furtherance of the UN agenda of promoting world peace and international understanding.

THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY
This has the potency of creating jobs through the impartation of skills. CBCIU is working towards evolving and publishing a series based on empirical research from African countries on “Protecting, Promoting and Transmitting Africa’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development” and to establish innovative, information and communication technology tools for peace and sustainable development and plans to engage young people in ethical practices in the use of modern communication tools for peace and sustainable development. It also aims at enhancing the capacity of young people in particular, in the effective use of social media for promotion of peace and sustainable development, facilitate collaboration for prevention of abuse of new media among young people, document indigenous knowledge systems in Africa in agriculture, medicine, education, commerce, science and technology, environment and governance. It will act on the following: Preserve the knowledge and skills of persons (living human treasures) who have made noteworthy contributions to performing, enactment, or re‐creation of intangible cultural heritage elements with high historical, artistic or cultural value. Find ways of possibly replicating and/or building on that experiment (those who constituted the original Osogbo artists were boys and girls literally taken off the streets by Georgina and Ulli); Explore ways of ensuring continuity by instituting an annual Nigeria-wide art competition among the youth. Foster the transmission of knowledge and skills of living human treasures to younger generations for the purpose of sustainability of African cultural heritage and the promotion of a culture of peace. Report exemplary practices on promotion, protection and transmission of indigenous knowledge systems in Africa and the rest of the world. Recommend strategies for harnessing the power of indigenous knowledge for sustainable development of African countries and for Black people all over the world.