**PRESS RELEASE**

For Immediate Release:
Monday, December 12, 2005

Contact:
Matt Losak, 301-431-5453

NATIONAL LABOR COLLEGE MOURNS DEATH OF LABOR LEADER KILLED IN NIGERIAN PLANE CRASH

Silver Spring, Md.-The National Labor College (NLC) is mourning the death of one of its own today as news of Saturday’s plane crash in Nigeria revealed that a leading Nigerian labor official who attended an intensive NLC leadership seminar last week was among the dead.  Uche Marcus Okoro, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSEN), a registered trade union and one of 28 such associations in Nigeria that protects its members while promoting harmonious industrial relations between industry and government was killed when a plane carrying 110 passengers and crew members crashed Saturday in Nigeria’s main oil city, Port Harcourt. All but three on board were killed.

“Today we mourn the death of one of the labor movement’s brothers and NLC leadership program participants, Uche Marcus Okoro, said Susan J. Schurman, president of the NLC. “Brother Okoro came here to help his union and his people strengthen their relationship with the industry so vital to Nigeria’s economy. His outstanding leadership skills were evident to all of us throughout the program, adding to our profound sense of loss.

A tragedy like this touches us all at any time when it occurs, but we are especially saddened to hear such news this time of year. Just last week, we stood together on the steps of the National Labor College to watch the first snowfall many of our Nigerian colleagues had ever seen.”

Okoro was among a group of 19 who arrived two weeks ago to study labor leadership and administration, analyze PENGASSEN’s challenges and opportunities for the future and meet with fellow labor and economic experts.  The seminar was organized in conjunction with Nigeria’s Michael Imoudu Institute for Labor Studies and the American Center of International Labor Solidarity.  The group was given the opportunity to tour Washington D.C. and holiday shop before returning home.

The NLC is the world’s only accredited college devoted exclusively to educating union leaders, members, activists and staff. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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