Author: Nigerian Center Staff Published: 1/6/2025 Nigerian Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: info@nigeriancenter.org
Date January 6, 2025
Washington, DC – The Nigerian Center is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $75,000 general support grant from the DC Bar Foundation to provide critical legal services to the immigrant community in Washington, DC. This grant represents a major step forward in assisting immigrants and offering access to essential legal and social services linked to immigration status. The funding will also support the Center’s policy advocacy efforts with the federal government and the DC Council.
“We are profoundly grateful to the DC Bar Foundation for their partnership at this pivotal moment. This funding comes at a critical time when members of our community are in increasing need of legal assistance and support in navigating legal challenges. It is truly a moment of hope for immigrants in Washington, DC, as these funds empower us to meet the growing demand for legal aid and address the barriers our clients face every day,”
— Gbenga Ogunjimi, Executive Director of the Nigerian Center.
Starting January 15, 2025, the Center will launch a free tax preparation program, enabling individuals—particularly immigrants with household incomes below $64,000—to file their taxes at no cost. This program will also assist those without Social Security numbers in obtaining Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) free of charge. This initiative is critical, as tax compliance often serves as a barrier for immigrants seeking to adjust their immigration status or become naturalized U.S. citizens.
For those in need of assistance, please contact us online or call our immigration assistance hotline at 1-800-395-9272.
For more information about the Nigerian Center’s legal aid program, visit https://www.nigeriancenter.org/immigration
About the DC Bar Foundation
We are committed to transforming DC’s legal aid network so all District residents have a fair and equal legal experience. Through our network approach, we actively bring together all invested stakeholders to identify and address the unmet civil legal needs of DC residents with low incomes, create solutions with a critical eye for racial justice and equity, and demonstrate meaningful impact.
About the Nigerian Center
The Nigerian Center Inc. (501c3), is the first immigrant and cultural center for the Nigerian diaspora in the United States. The Center’s mission is to offer financial inclusion and social justice opportunities for members of the African immigrant community. We educate, empower, uplift, and assist all immigrant families in acclimating to life in the United States through policy advocacy, cultural, legal aid services, entrepreneurship, and homeownership opportunities.
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