The impact of COVID-19 cuts across the world. In the United States, more than 40 million workers have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic gripped the nation. More than 100,000 Americans have lost their lives to the disease. Among the affected are Nigerians across different occupations. As we prepare to turn the page on another month, our thoughts and prayers at Nigerian Parents Magazine are with those affected by COVID-19.
One large set of people impacted by COVID-19 is the graduating class of 2020. It is not news that Nigerians and their offspring are the most highly educated immigrant group in the United States. This means that across the country, this month, thousands of Nigerians, and Nigerian-Americans will be graduating from high schools and colleges. However, they will do so without the ceremonies and recognition that normally follow many years of hard work and studies. COVID-19 has changed everything. Many of these graduations will be held virtually and many will happen in adherence to social distancing regulations put in place by states and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
This month, Nigerian Parents Magazine (NPM) is honoring the graduating class of 2020. To do this, we reached out to some of these students to get their views on how COVID-19 affected their graduation plans. The disappointments are palpable. When asked what he will miss most, one graduate said, “I will miss the Nigerian graduation cookout party the most.” Many people in the Nigerian community across the United States are just as disappointed as these graduates. We will not have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our loved ones the way we had hoped. However, it is important that we remain safe and healthy, and in due time, we will see many more achievements from the class of 2020. To the graduating class of 2020, we say: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU DID IT. NOW LET US GO FOR MORE! We will continue to update our list of class of 2020 graduates. To read our tribute to the graduating class, please click here.
COVID-19 has also affected our activities at NPM. For example, we made quick adjustments to meet deadlines for time-sensitive publications. However, we are back on track. Our interview with Oge Mora, originally scheduled for last month, will be released on June 15th. I know that many of you have been waiting to read about the award-winning Nigerian-American storyteller and the author of Thank You, Omu. Our interview with Mora is as thrilling as ever. We guarantee that it is worth your time.
Finally, as I have done in the past, I will end this message by asking you to reach out to us and let us know how we can make your experience on our website more pleasurable. Tell us which Nigerian achiever in the diaspora you are curious, and would want to know more about. I must also say, in talking to everyone that we have featured, the sense of nostalgia was profound. In fact, the most consistent comment from them was, “It feels like talking to my own people.” They understand that the person who tells your story best is one who understands your values.
Hamilton Odunze
Executive Editor