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Volume XVII, Number 7
December 24, 1986
25$
V
Ezak Associates Signed-----
Marketing Agreement With
Nigerian Co_____________
by Jerry Garner
Ezak Associates, Ltd , a Portland based computer consulting firm and
manufacturer, has signed a contract with Emerald West Africa Limited of
Lagos, Nigeria, to allow them to market its Dataguard
The Dataguard ensures that computer equipment, security and commu
nication systems are not disabled by power outages It is designed for
maintenance free application. The Dataguard works with a regular deep
cycle 12 volt car battery and is designed for world wide adaptability
Dr. Erasmus "C huck'' Ogbuobiri, principal consultant for Ezak and inven
tor of the Dataguard. said he was pleased to sign an agreement with Emer
aid West Africa Limited The Nigerian firm is involved in electronic, fire
and telecommunications systems
Dr Ogbuobiri, a native of Nigeria, said Emerald West Africa will market
and distribute the Dataguard system in Nigeria and throughout Western
Africa. "W hen I invented the Dataguard it was my intention to market it
in Africa," Dr Ogbuobiri said Stephen Okongwu, a representative of
Emerald West Africa was in Portland over the weekend to sign the agree
ment with Ezak Associates
Okongwu predicts that the Dataguard will be a success in Africa once it's
marketed "The demands for power in Nigeria and many other developing
countries is very high; usually there isn't enough power to meet the de
mand. I believe the Dataguard can help fill the power void."
Okongwu said once he returns to Nigeria, he will begin to demonstrate
the Dataguard to individuals, government agencies, computer companies,
and organizations "A fte r they see what the Dataguard is capable of doing,
I am confident that it will sell in Africa.”
Okongwu said he was satisfied with the arrangement his company has
with Ezak. So far, the company has invested $25,000 in venture capital on
the Dataguard.
by Jerry Garner
Dr O gbuobiri (L) and Stephen O k o n g w u (R)
Photo by John B row n
Dr Ogbuobiri said he has waited for some time to market the Dataguard.
Due to thr lack of venture capital, I haven t been able to market it proper
ly in Ameru a except for international computer shows By signing an
agreement with Emerald West Africa, the Dataguard will be advertised in
a huge market "
Dr Ogbuobiri predicts that eventually his agreement with Emerald West
Africa will create 40 new |obs at Ezak in manufacturing assembly line work
NAACP To Become More
Visible Says New President
by Jerry Garner
George Hendrix is the newly elected president of the Portland Branch of
the NAACP Hendrix is employed in the personnel department at Bonne
ville Power Administration He has a B S. degree in Public Administration
from California State University at Fresno, a Masters degree in Business
Administration from the University of Portland, and is a doctorate candi
date in Education at Oregon State. Hendrix and his wife Odessa have three
children
Mr. Hendrix agreed to an interview with the Observer We discussed a
wide range of issues. Here are excerts from the interview
Q: Mr. Hendrix, which direction would you like to see the Portland
NAACP go during your tenure as president?"
A "I would like to see the NAACP once again in the forefront of issues
which affect the Black community. In order for this to occur, we must be
come more visible and present a forum where Blacks can constructively
express what they would like to see happening in society
"We as people (Blacks) don't have a great deal of input into decision
making policies which affect our lives. In my opinion, the NAACP is the
hub of all organizations that are concerned with issues regarding civil
rights, economic development, and social reforms. Organizations such as
the Urban League and the Black United Front have done a tremendous
amount of good work in our community. But I feel the main thing the
NAACP does is to challenge the structure of society in an effort to make it
more responsible to the needs of Blacks and other minorities The NAACP
tries to reshape the system by monitoring it and at the same time serving as
the human conscience of the system This is the direction I would like to
see the NAACP take during my presidency. In addition, the NAACP will
make an attempt to network with other organizations, whether they listen
to us or not, in an effort to work toward common objectives
Q "There is a perception by many Blacks in Portland that the NAACP
hasn't been visible in the community Is this an accurate assessment of
the Portland Chapter of the NAACP?"
A "Yes, I would say that is an accurate assessment A person can come
to Portland and be here for years without knowing there is a chapter here
Part of this is due to the membership itself The people who are paid, card
carrying members must be informed as to what the organization is trying to
accomplish and what has been done. The leadership of the NAACP, my
self, the other officers and board members, will become visibly involved
whenever there is an issue in our community.”
"For example, during the tragic death of Lloyd Stevenson, I felt the
NAACP missed an opportunity by not lending its auspice in trying to bring
about a resolution to that situation in a contructive manner There were
some things the NAACP did right during the crisis We were involved with
some people who were there. Our justice committee, which is chaired by
Bobbi Nunn, worked with the Stevenson family, but we were not in the
forefront.”
Q: "In the past, there has been a great deal of tension between the Black
community and the police. Do you have any plans as president of the
NAACP to reduce the tension?"
A: "This is a sensitive and critical issue There will always be tension
between the Black community and the police department The reason I say
Poll Shows
Teens Are
Sexually
Active
More than half of all American teenagers are sexually active by their
seventeenth birthday and only one third of all sexually active teens use
contraceptives consistently, according to the Planned Parenthood Federa
tion of America poll conducted by Louis Harris and Associates
The poll, titled American Teens Speak: Sex. Myths, TV and Birth Con
tro l," found that two thirds of the sexually active teens report never using
contraceptives or using them only occasionally Fifty six percent of sexu­
ally active teens did not use a method of birth control at first intercourse,
most citing as the reason the unexpected nature of their first sexual en
counter that it "just happened ” In fact, the Harris poll revealed that
teens, who have had sex, volunteer in open ended questioning that un­
expected sex with no time to prepare is the most frequent single reason
so many of their peers do not use birth control.
According to Joan Bmninger. Education Director for the Planned Parent
hood of the Columbia/Willamette, the poll results are encouraging "A ll of
our educational programs are on target in the battle against teenage preg
nancy We have long been advocates for the types of programs and ser­
vices which this poll of the nation's young people show are needed Al
though there is resistance to all of these critical programs, we are slowly
making headway."
Binninger said television and the media should become more involved in
educating teens about birth control information. "Television and the media
have a great influence on teenagers The ne’ works still refuse to air contra
ception ads and usually censor discussions of birth control in dramatic pro
grammmg.” Binninger said She hopes the survey of teen opinions will
"help to move the nation and the state of Oregon along in the desperately
needed effort of promoting responsible sexual behavior among adole
scents."
The rate of teen pregnancy in Oregon has dropped dramatically from
93 2 per 1,000 fam.lies (ages 15 19) in 1980 to 71 9 per 1,000 families leges
15 191 in 1985
The survey also revealed the following
• Sexual activity begins earlier among those teenagers who have the
fewest resources and who are thus the most vulnerable
• Teenagers reported ttiat social pressure is the chief roason so many of
their peers do not want to have sexual intercourse until they are older
• Only one third (33%) of those teenagers who have had intercourse
say that they use contraceptives all the time
• Contraceptives are most likely to tie used by those teenagers who can
see they have a lot at stake and who stand to lose a lot by being involved
in an unintended pregnancy
The report encourages parent child talks and sex education in the
schools and organized campaigns for teenage pregnancy prevention
the haves and the have nots Our community represents the have nots,
the-efore, the police |ust police our community. They're there to keep the
community under control. What goes on in the community is only impor
tant from the police standpoint if it spreads out and affects the broader
community Otherwise, prostitution, drug use and trafficking, burglary,
muggings, and other types of criminal behavior, if they can be confined to
our community, are tolerated by the police If the have nots want to do
stroy themselves, it's not a concern of theirs Problems occur between tho
two groups trecause some officers assume the entire community are law
breakers This is not the case. Most Blacks in the community are law
abiding citizens who deserve protection and care for themselves and their
property "
Until we can get the police to simply look at our community as some
thing they should be protecting, instead of protecting others against us,
we are going to have tension. In our society, racism is like apple pie, it's a
part of American ethos You have police officers who cannot control their
racist tendencies, and when they're unleashed, it's their opportunity to do
what they feel free to do
The NAACP has a responsibility to understand how the Portland Police
Department operates I must admit that I am ignorant on how the Bureau
operates."
"I believe the power lies with Stan Peters right now
"W e want to make the elected officials accountable for the actions of
the police However, if someone in the community is engaging in criminal
behavior, they should be put in jail and left there I have absolutely no
excuses, empathy, or sympathy to what happens to anyone that preys on
our com m unity.”
Red Cross Baby Care Course Offered
George Hendrls — New President of the Portland Chapter of the
NAACP.
Photo by Richard J. Brown
this is because one must examine the role of the police. The role of the
police is to protect life and limb and property. They're the bastion between
The American Red Cross is offer
ing a "Bring Baby Horne” class in
four parts on Thursdays, January 8
thru 29, from 7 to 9 30 p m ., at
Red Cross Headquarters, 3131 N
Vancouver Ave
This course is for expectant, new,
and adopting parents and/or grand
parents to prepare them to under
stand and fulfill the special needs of
infants through their first year of
life Taught by Red Cross volunteer
instructors, the sub|ects covered
will include feeding, handling and
bathing, characteristics of the in­
fant, family adjustments, growth
and development during the first
year, and safety and health care for
infants.
Pre registration is necessary since
class size is limited A charge of $20
per couple or individual will ba made
to cover costs of materials Scho
larships for "B ring Baby Home" and
other Red Cross courses are avail
able
Call Red Cross at 284 7090 to pre
register