OANA convention 2022 digest-final

OANA OBUDU ASSOCIATION IN NORTH AMERICA 5TH CONVENTION & FUNDRAISING GALA Staten Island, NY 6581 HYLAN BOULEVARD STATEN ISLAND NEW YORK 10309 2022 CONVENTION DIGEST July 28 - 30, 2022

2 OANA About OANA: Our Story Obudu Association OANA is a 501c 3 Non - Profit Organization formed in July 2014. The goal of OANA is In North to bring to bear the collective experiences of Obudu sons and daughters in the America diaspora to lead and facilitate, sponsor and build capacity and skills, in order to develop opportunities for world-class education and self-sustaining programs for Obudu community at home and abroad. Vision & Mission The OANA Identity Our Identity is made Our mission is to identify the applicable tools, plans and tactics needed to start up of Six (6) producing progressive results in an acceptable time frame to maintain or achieve the distinguishing desirable goals set forth by the association. We are dedicated to improving the quality symbolisms: of life for our members and families in North America and Nigeria by promoting self sufficiency and the preservation of our cultural heritage. The Tree represents Our vision is to work cohesively as members and collaborate with other organizations life. within North America and Nigeria to foster progress in areas of development, education, The Hill represents the and training. We will also help create a conductive business environment that will help obstacle that must be foster the growth of business and entrepreneurship. We will help to establish programs overcome in our  socio- and services that will empower the families in Obudu and across the world. economic  landscape for the benefit  of Our Program Focus our community.   The American and Youth Leadership Award Program Nigerian Flags represent our common Youth development programs are aimed to encourage scholastic excellence, goals in promoting unity, Leadership development, and Community involvement among Obudu youths in the and exchange of ideas Diaspora. in our cross-continental heritage. Educational Development Program The book represents an incubator of knowledge This program is geared towards identifying educational resources to help the youths in that can subsequently Obudu and in the diaspora. Projects under this program are: RECYCLE - A - BOOK, unleash the talents, MENTOR - A - SCHOOL, and FACILITY REHABILITATION ingenuity, imagination and foresight to do Self-Sustaining Development Program things that can improve the quality life in our The Self Sustaining program is aimed at self sustaining education that will create micro community. entrepreneurs. The goal of this program is to mobilize business leaders in various The Bird represents the business sectors to educate, mentor and promote self sustaining small business in agent of hope and order to reduce high rate of unemployed youths within our community. freedom. It signifies how far and high we can OANA's Impact & Accountability by the numbers reach when our bright ideas or various 450,000 $30,000+ Projects Funds Raised Communities Served Youth & Members viewpoints coalesce LIVES TOUCHED IN Raised and Completed Goes to through OANA education milestones constructively to enable Disbursed Projects us achieve a desired AREAS SERVED Programs recognized goal. The Sun represents the To Learn More about and participate in any of these programs: light and positive energy Visit obuduana.org for more, or email us: [email protected]. that guide our Connect with us on facebook.com/obudupeople, or innovation and Twitter.com/obuduana , or go directly, scan the QR code continuous effort to make changes as needed on the road to accomplish our mission.

3 2022 Convention Program of Events Thursday July 28, 2022 Event Schedule 6:00 AM - 6:00 Pm Arrival and Check-in 7:00 Pm - 9:00 Pm Optional Dinner and Fellowship (socials) at Justy Akems Friday Event Schedule Saturday July 29, July 30, Event Schedule 2022 2022 8:30 AM - 9:30 Am Breakfast-/Raffle tickets returns/ Dues payment/ T-shirts sales 7:00 AM - 7:30 Pm Meet and greet / pictures and photo up 9:30 Am - 11:00 Am Business meeting 11:00 Am - 12:00 PM Presentation on Estate Planning 7:30 Pm - 7:35 Pm Introduction of MC and DJ / Fundraising begins 12:00 Pm - 1:00 Pm Lunch / Raffle tickets returns/ Dues payment 1:00 Pm - 2:00 Pm Business Meeting 7:35 Pm - 7:45 Pm Acknowledgment of invited guest /invitation to the high table 2:00 Pm - 2:15 Pm Break/ snacks 7:45 Pm - 7:50 Pm Opening Prayer 2:15 Pm - 3:15 Pm Youth Presentations/recognition of 2019-2022 graduates 7:50 Pm - 8:00 Pm Singing of the national anthem (Nigeria/ USA) 3:15 Pm - 4:15 Pm Open forum questions and Answers for candidates By Isabella Obot 4:15 Pm - 5:00 Pm Elections- Business adjourned 8:00 Pm - 8:10 Pm Welcome address by President of OANA 5:00 Pm - 6:00 Pm Driving to the Ajang for Dinner 8:10 Pm - 9:20 Pm Dinner/ Luncheon Begins/Fundraising 6:15 Pm - 9:00 Pm Dinner and fellowship at the Ajang 9:20 Pm - 9:40 Pm Swearing in of Elected officials 9:40 Pm - 10:10 Pm Raffle Draw / Acknowledgements 10:10 Pm - 1:00 Am Dance!!! Dance!!! Dance!!!/ Convention Adjourned until 2024 The Ajangs Congratulate Obudu Association in North America (OANA) on its 8th Year Anniversary

4 President's welcome Remarks Obudu Association in North America (OANA) is an idea that made its way to fruition and is worth celebrating. OANA was an idea that was just floating in the sky until a brilliant mind harnessed and nurtured it from the incubational state to the reality it has become today. Through hard work, dedication and stewardship of the members of this association, we are standing strong and looking forward to longevity and stable future for the association. In the short time that the association has been in existence, we have done some remarkable things in the community abroad and among ourselves in the diaspora. The leprosy colony and the primary school projects are the two things we have successfully executed in the community abroad. Joesphat Ajang Locally, the association has brought us out of President living in isolation of one another to living and working in harmony as a group for the common good. We now leverage the synergy of our diverse skill sets to help ourselves and our community back home in many ways. It has become possible to celebrate our successes as applicable and commiserate with one another as needed and condole one another in bad times as a unit. Sometimes it is easier to come together than it is to stay together. let us continue to work diligently hard to find a way to coexist in harmony. Life is a challenge and living without any intellectual discourse with one another leaves no room for creative ideas that fuel progress. In fairness to the executive team, your performance during our term in office was peerless. You took your responsibility wholeheartedly with passion and executed with compassion. The integral result of your effort is transparent in the results we achieved through our concerted and systematic way of pulling together as a team. Kudos to all of you. May your future remain bright and fulfilling. Long live AONA and its members. OANA 2017 - 2022 Executives OANA 2017 - 2022 BOT Josephat Ajang Christy Ubi Barbara Obot President Vice President Secretary DR. PETER UGBONG CHAIR MRS. ROSE AGADA MEMBER MRS. JANET AYENDI MEMBER MRS. THERESA AGBA MEMBER MR. GODWIN AWHEN MEMBER Ashley Undie Justy Akem Walles Agoye Youth Leader Treasurer CIO

5 OANA Fundraising Report Projects Years 2015 - 2021 Project Year: 2015 TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CENTER RESTORATION PHASE 1 Most of the equipment used were old and had been there since the Leprosy colony was established in 1959. The unit lacks good beds, mattresses, chairs, tables, etc. Other obsolete items were pillows, bed sheets, blankets, and mackintosh. The unit was in disrepair and has been derelict for over 40 years. There had been no renovation done on the buildings since they were built. OANA provided the needed items and rehabilitated the facility as a health center for the community. Project Year: 2019 TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CENTER RESTORATION PHASE 2 THE OKWOROGONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION In Phase 2 of the project, the association completed the PROJECT following: We completed another bold initiative which included restoring Add a new roof to the patients’ chapel an elementary School in Obudu, Cross River State. This project Restore the borehole to provide clean running water to the center and the neighboring community features include, Provide solar light for the center Restoring the Roofs and floors of four classroom blocks Building 80 wooden seating benches and desks for the Project Year: 2017 students Providing school supplies like notebooks and pencils. Fundraising for OANA 2022 - 2024 School Restoration Project On behalf of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees of Obudu Association in North America, we thank you for your support and contributions to our 2018 and 2019 fundraising efforts. We are especially grateful to the generosity of friends and families that contributed to the execution of the Elementary School project in the Okworogong community. The $10,000 raised went to: Renovating a 4-classroom school building: Repairing the walls, vertical expansion, repairing the floor, replacing the entire roof, adding new doors and windows Built 40 workspace desks for students, new tables and chairs for the renovated classrooms. An additional 40 desks were made possible by a donation from the Agada (Alice and CY) family in memory of their late mother/mother-in-law, Mrs. Justina Igiegle Ogar. Building of two new restrooms - male and female This year, we are now embarking on another bold initiative that includes restoring another Elementary school in Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to implement the project. We invite you to contribute to this effort by making a direct donation to the project in addition to purchasing a $5 raffle ticket for the drawing to be held on July 30th, 2022, in Staten Island, New York. Besides, the amazing prizes that we have made available to attract participants, the true joy comes from knowing that your contribution shall be used to improve the educational well-being of the lives of children in the Obudu area. Please make your donation check payable to OANA, or contribute directly online at www.obuduana.org/donate. We thank you for your consideration and support of our mission.

6 Congratulations! Congratulations! Graduation Graduation June 2020 July 2022 Petrides (HS) Healthcare Administration Business Minor SUNY Utah Valley University, University Buffalo Neuroscience Emma Ajang Walter Obot Congratulations! Congratulations! Graduation Graduation June 2020 May 2021 Computer Engineering MSC Biomedical sciences Stony Brook 1st year medical school University Barry University Clement Shyam Annie Ajang We Are Proud of Your Achievements

7 THE AGADA FAMILY WISHES OANA A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CONVENTION IN 2022.

8 Congratulations! Congratulations! Graduation May 2019 Graduation May 2020 MPH Health Policy & Law Sports Medicine Minor in Global Health minor in Chemistry & Biology. Boston University Currently medical school School of Public Howard Health University Irima Ajang Ashiye Aator Congratulations! Congratulations! Graduation Graduation May 2020 May 2020 Civil Engineering The Wheeler (HS) Texas A & M Providence College University, Biochemistry College Station Jonathan Undie Paul Eyo We Are Proud of Your Achievements

9 Mission Accomplished CONGRATULATIONS UVU HEALTH ADMINISTARTION 2022 Welcome Home Sister Obot Thanks for a Job Well done!! CONGRATULATIONS BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION, VICE PRESIDENT OF HONORS PROGRAM CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING THE TEXAS ALLSTATE CHOIR 2022 CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NOMINATION AS A DFW Great 100 Nurse 2020 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN! HERE WE COME!!! The Obots Congratulates OANA

10 Congratulations! Congratulations! Graduation June 2021 Graduation Cedar Hill (HS) May 2022 English and Film & Media St. OLAF Texas State College University at San Marco Science Gabriel Alada Cara Awhen Congratulations! 5th OANA Project Raffle Graduation May 2020 Proceeds Support Elementary School Restoration Project at Obudu Family Nurse Practitioner Buy $5RAFFLE, TO The University of Texas Health Science Center 55\" TV Apple Ipad Ring Door Bell Ashley Undie Multiple $50 Gift Card Amazon Apple Watch Echo Show

11 Congratulations! Congratulations to Professor William Undie on attaining the pinnacle of your career. You are a constant source of inspiration for all of us. From the families of John Undie, Tony Liberty Adie, Jonathan Liberty Adie, and Walles Agoye.

12 JJ, WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT AS A COLLEGE GRADUATE. YOU HAVE BEEN A ROLE MODEL IN NUMEROUS WAYS TO THE YOUNGER ONES. KEEP ACHIEVING, KEEP ACCOMPLISHING, BUT NEVER FORGET TO KEEP BEING THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY - KIND, CARING AND COMPASSIONATE. WE LOVE YOU AND ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU. ASHLEY CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING YOUR MASTERS IN NURSING AND BECOMING A FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER. YOU MAKE US PROUD EVERY DAY IN THE YOUNG WOMAN YOU ARE BECOMING. WE THANK GOD FOR ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE PRAY GOD CONTINUES TO GUIDE YOU AS YOU GO FORWARD. WE HOPE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE PAVE THE WAY FOR MANY MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE LOVE YOU AND ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU!

13 The Family of Mondy, Joy & Barbara Gold Gladly congratulates OANA on its 2022 Fundraising Gala The Obudu Association in North America (OANA) is the voice of the Obudu people in America

14 Congratulations! Gabriel Alada Class of 2022 May your Future be Bright and Fulfilling Scanning the future to find meanings

15 OANA Members, Exco & BOT July 2017 - July 2022 Executive Team UNIANDEYE CECELIA -Houston, TX UTIOKPANG GABRIEL -NEW YORK JOSEPHAT AJANG PRESIDENT (NEW YORK, NY) UTIOKPANG AnGELinA- SPRINGFILED GARDEN-NY CHRISTY UBI VICE PRESIDENT (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) AWHEN FELICITAS -DALLAS TX BARBARA OBOT SECRETARY (FORT WORTH, TX) AWHEN GODWIN (Mr) -DALLAS, TX JUSTY AKEM TREASURER (New Jersey, NJ) AYENDI PATRICK (MARYLAND) WALLES AGOYE C.I.O. (WOODBURY, MN) AYENDI JANE (MARYLAND) ASHLEY UNDIE YOUTH LEADER (HOUSTON, TX) In Memory of our departed Members since Last Board of Trustees Convention 2019 DR. PETER UGBONG CHAIRMAN (MD) SISTER DOROTHY UGBE, HOUSTON TX MRS. THERESA AGBA (MD) MRS. JANET AYENDI (MD) Acknowledgements & Credits MR. GODWIN AWHEN (TX) MRS. ROSE AGADA (IL) The Executive committee and Board of Trustees of OANA wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all Registered Members our members in the North East Region for their efforts in making this occasion memorable for everyone. Our AGADA ROSE -CHICAGO, IL AGADA JOHN -CHICAGO, IL special thanks go to Mr. & Mrs.Ajang, Prof and Mrs. AGBA TERESA -Baltimore, MN Gold, Ms. Justy Akem, Mr. and Mrs. Utiongkpan, and AGBA CY -Indiana Dr. and Mrs. Shyam for their dedication in seeing the AGBA ALICE - Indiana success of this event. Finally, We appreciate the work AGLAZOR GENIEVE -Nigeria of all OANA members that worked to raise funds by AGOYE WALLES -STILL WATER, MN selling their raffle tickets and getting advertisements AGOYE JEANA -STILL WATER, MN into our program booklet. May we continue in the spirit AGOYE THERESA-STILL WATER MN of mutual respect for one another and work in concert AJANG CECELIA -New York to accomplish the goal of the association. Be well and AJANG JOSEPHAT -NEW YORK, NY stay connected as we look forward to meeting at the AKEM JUSTY -NEW JERSEY, ALADA MICHAEL -Minneapolis, MN next convention in 2024. ALADA TERESA -Minneapolis, MN AMAMA PLACIDUS -MANHATTAN, KS Convention Digest Design & Event Consulting AGIM IPEH- MD AGIM Juliana -MD 501c3 AGENCY AMAMA AYUMI -MANHATTAN, KS OBOT BARBARA -Dallas, TX OBOT BASSEY -Dallas, TX BEPEH ROSE -Dallas, TX JACOB ALICE -PROVIDENCE, RI Gold MUNDY -NEW JERSEY, GOLD ALO -NEW JERSEY, IIKOR TONY -Atlanta, GA IKOR MARY -Atlanta, GA SHYAM CHRIS -Albany, NY SHYAM PHILOMINA, NY UBI PADDY, ST PAUL MN UBI CHRISTY, ST PAUL MN UGBONG PETER (ALORDY) -BALTIMORE, MD UGBONG UTEBYE -BALTIMORE, MD UNDIE JOHN -Los Angelis , CA UNDIE WILLIAM -Houston, TX UNDIE EMMA -Houston, TX UNIDIEH AMAKA UNDIEH ASHIWEL -ELIOTT CITY MD UNIANDEYE KEVIN -Houston, TX

Congratulations! Congratulates Obudu Association in North America on her 8th anniversary