Alieu Badara Nyassi, a native of Penyem
Village in the Western Division in The Gambia, graduated
from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Human Resource Development and a minor
in Employment and Labor Studies. He also received training
at CMC Training Center in New Delhi, India where he earned
a certificate in Small Business Development and Computer
Software.
Alieu has vast experience as a trainer, career adviser and
public speaker. He is currently working for Michigan Works!
as Employment Specialist. He worked for Operation Crossroads
Africa, Inc. (www.operationcrossroadsafrica.org) Project
Leader, West Africa Area Rep. and as a Consultant. Prior
to his relocation to the US, Alieu worked for nine years
as Program Coordinator of the President’s Award Scheme
in The Gambia and was very instrumental in the creation
of The Gambia Youth Business Trust Fund (GYBT) which provided
young people with both short and long-term loans to start
small businesses. He also helped start over 40 small businesses
with rural women in The Gambia as Trickle Up Program Coordinator.
Alieu who enjoys travel as one of his hobbies has extensive
international travel experience. He led several youth exchange
groups to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In January
1997, Alieu represented The Gambia at the UN-G77 Summit
for Young Entrepreneurs on Trade, Finance and Investment
held in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Mr. Nyassi is the co-founder of Friends of Penyem for Education
and Development (FOPEAD), vice president of The African
Cultural Exchange (www.theafricanculturalexchange.org) both
organizations are designed to actively participate in socio-economic
development projects in Africa. He is a member of the Fund
for African & African American Cultural & Educational
Solidarity, Inc. board of directors. (www.faces-inc). During
his time as a student, he was president and founder of the
Oakland University Diverse Voices Student Organization dedicated
to teaching students on the importance and values of cultural
diversity in the workplace through workshops, seminars and
conferences.
Mr. Nyassi believes that Africans in the Diaspora can bring
real change in Africa and create great opportunities for
Africa especially for women and children. Under his leadership
as The Gambia Association of Michigan’s Secretary
of Education, he hopes to establish a scholarship fund that
will provide financial assistance to needy students in The
Gambia and seek for educational material such as books and
computers for Gambian schools. The department of education
of GAM will also encourage association members to seek a
college education or certification in a demand occupation.
According to Mr. Nyassi, it is the goal of his department
to establish a career development.
His term as the Education Secretary expires
at the end of June 2007.
