WEST CAMPUS — Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba came to United States for the first time to speak about his home country of Nigeria to students at Valencia on Thursday, Jan. 31.

He is the founder of Creative Minds Academy and the director of “Project Happiness – Africa.” He was the special guest this month at Valencia College’s “Conversations on Peace” conference.

Ivorgba spoke about Nigeria to the students who attended the meeting in Building 3 Room 151A at 2:30 p.m. This meeting was open to all students and could be found by searching the events calendar for Valencia.

Many of the students in attendance didn’t know much about the country. For example, Nigeria’s video-film industry is known as “Nollywood,” which is now the second-largest producer of movies in the world. Students were able to listen to Ivorgba and ask questions at the end of his speech.

Ivorgba explained that many people in Nigeria don’t have many options because his country is facing a lot of corruption.

“You have no reason whatsoever not to do well. You have the best professors, you have the best facilities and everything is there just for you to make yourself available,” said Ivorgba on the wealth of resources available to American students.

“In our own case, it’s not that way, it’s not that way at all. We are limited.”

Keola Prickett, who attended the meeting, was asked what she thought Ivorgba really liked about America. She said, “I honestly think he liked how everyone gave him full attention and the diversity of all the students and the great treatment.” Prickett was given a book “The Peace Book” by Louise Diamond at the meeting and she says it’s very inspiring just like Ivorgba’s speech.

Kevin Maldonado who listened to the recording of the meeting said “I agree with Emmanuel about the government’s relation with education and creating jobs for its citizens. In order for change to happen it has to start with education. With a rise in unemployment there is a correlation to a rise in crime.”

As Ivorgba flies back to  back to his own school in Nigeria, Valencia students get back to their education.

Every student is on a different path to achieve their career, but events like Ivorgba’s speech hope to bolster students’ dedication and appreciation of the United States of America.