New Americans Magazine 10th Anniversary: Ohio Secretary of State LaRose, Other Leaders Commend NIJ Alumnus Uwadiae
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, State Senator Hearcel F. Craig, and United Nations Association of Africa (UNAA) USA, Inc. President General Ambassador Chief (Dr.) Sylvester Okeyoba Okafor have commended Mr. Deba Uwadiae, an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and Publisher of New Americans Magazine, as the publication prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
The anniversary gala night is scheduled to hold at Felbry College School of Nursing, 6055 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
According to New Americans Magazine, the event will celebrate a decade of storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement focused on the experiences and contributions of immigrants and refugees across the state.
In a special recognition marking the milestone, Secretary LaRose praised the magazine for its role in amplifying immigrant voices, highlighting their achievements, and strengthening relationships among Ohio’s diverse communities.
“As Ohio’s 51st Secretary of State, it is with great pride that I recognise the 10th anniversary of New Americans Magazine. On behalf of the State of Ohio, I am pleased to extend special and well-deserved recognition to New Americans Magazine on its 10th anniversary,” LaRose said.
He noted that, over the past decade, the publication had served as a platform for sharing inspiring stories and celebrating the contributions of new Americans.
“For a decade, New Americans Magazine has served as a vital platform for amplifying immigrant voices, sharing inspiring stories, and celebrating the achievements and contributions of new Americans,” he stated.
The Secretary of State also highlighted the magazine’s community-focused initiatives, including the Annual New Americans Awards and the Annual New Americans Book Fair, which he said had promoted community involvement and recognised outstanding achievements.
LaRose commended the magazine’s leadership, staff, contributors, and supporters for their commitment to inclusion and community engagement, congratulating them on reaching the milestone and wishing the publication continued success.
Similarly, Ohio State Senator Hearcel F. Craig issued a Senatorial Citation recognising the magazine on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary Gala Night.
“I am honoured to recognise the New Americans Magazine on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary Gala Night and extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued success in celebrating the voices, achievements, and contributions throughout the state of Ohio,” Craig said.
Joining in the anniversary felicitations, UNAA USA, Inc. President General Ambassador Chief (Dr.) Sylvester Okeyoba Okafor congratulated Uwadiae, the editorial team, and the magazine’s wider community on the publication’s decade-long journey.
In his message, Okafor said: “Warmest congratulations to the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Deba Uwadiae, your editorial team, and the entire New Americans Magazine community on the occasion of your 10th Anniversary, 24 October 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, USA.”
He described the anniversary as a significant achievement representing ten years of dedication to storytelling, amplifying immigrant voices, sharing experiences, and contributing to stronger and more inclusive communities.
Okafor also emphasised the importance of responsible media in promoting understanding, celebrating diversity, preserving cultural identity, and encouraging dialogue among people from different backgrounds.
“By giving visibility to immigrant experiences and achievements, New Americans Magazine has helped reinforce the values of inclusion, mutual respect, and community participation that are essential to peaceful and progressive societies,” he said.
He added that publications such as New Americans Magazine remained particularly significant at a time when migration, cultural diversity, and social integration continued to be important global issues, noting that stories could bridge divides, challenge stereotypes, inspire hope, and reinforce shared humanity.
Established in Columbus, Ohio, in 2016, New Americans Magazine is a general-interest publication designed to inform, educate, and entertain while promoting community activities, events, and programmes, particularly those serving immigrants, refugees, and underserved new Americans.
The magazine publishes daily on its website, www.thenewamericansmag.com, and bimonthly in print. It also distributes content through WhatsApp to 66 communities with more than 10,000 subscribers, providing a platform for news and stories relevant to new Americans.
The publication has grown from a four-page newsletter into a media platform documenting entrepreneurship, education, public service, and cultural heritage within new American communities.
Speaking at the ticket launch for the anniversary celebration, Uwadiae explained that the event would recognise the communities whose stories had shaped the magazine’s development while reaffirming its commitment to immigrant voices.
“The anniversary represents a celebration of the communities whose stories have shaped the magazine’s journey and a renewed commitment to amplifying immigrant voices for the next decade,” he remarked.
The veteran journalist also announced that Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther would deliver the keynote address at the anniversary gala night.
The event will bring together community leaders, elected officials, business partners, honorees, and readers for an evening of recognition, cultural celebration, and reflection on the magazine’s impact.
The celebration will mark ten years of documenting the lives, experiences, and contributions of immigrant and refugee communities across Ohio, as New Americans Magazine looks ahead to its next decade of publishing and community engagement.
