Udi-Ezeagu USA An Exemplary Success Story

Udi-Ezeagu USA: An Exemplary Success Story

EZEJIOFO SUNNY UDEH, Ph.D.

New York City , NY

Saturday, July 31, 2010

By adhering to Igbo philosophy and values, being our brothers’ keepers, serving our communities selflessly and in unity (Umunna bu Ike), Udi-Ezeagu USA departed from the antics of strife prevalent and veered towards providing the soothing balm to the rashes and acne discoloring the faces of most of our tepid performing Diaspora Igbo organizations.

As Ndiigbo, we cherish to preserve honor and integrity. We love the truth. We thrive in dedication, honesty and hard work. We ascribe to the notion that justice begets peace and with peace, there is progress. We love ourselves and we are devoted to our families. Indeed, we are our brother’s keeper such that we strive to serve our communities selflessly and with a sense of dignity. In fact, we are proud to see ourselves as committed to a good cause, a cause beyond self. These are some of the Igbo principles, philosophies, and values guiding our participation in community organizations as we hope to make a difference in another’s life and in the process make the world a better place for all. This is how it should be; however, it is not.

Quite unfortunately, our ancestors and living parents will not be very happy with us. As matter of fact, they will be disappointed because many of our organizations have not lived up to Igbo expectations. Most times, our organizations are rife in strife. Leadership and membership are singing discordant tunes with no sense of strategic direction and vastly undefined goals. Instead of the benefit of our Igbo values, the greatest achievements recorded are the number of factions and splinter groups that emerged from the original formation and/or the number of lawsuits where we expend our meager resources with careless abandon. Consequently, jeopardizing the survivability of the organizations and making potential members who do not want to be part of the lunacy to stay away.

Even though there have been suggestions and even supplications for remedy to the vicious cycles of disunity and unproductive endeavor in Diaspora Igbo organizations, progress has been illusive and success out of sight until the result of a somber gathering by a group of Diaspora Igbo of Udi and Ezeagu local governments in Enugu State started to emerge. The top agenda of this 2006 noble gathering was not to fashion a national organization but rather to resolve an electoral impasse that pitched Dr. Jude Akubuilo vs. Dr. Ezejiofo Udeh, their two sons gunning for the presidency of Enugu-USA. The inability of the group to resolve the deadlock motivated the formation of a national organization. Cognizance of the current organizational maladies afflicting many, the people of Udi and Ezeagu resolved early to hinge their formation on the original and good old Igbo principles and values as we adopted the mantra of ‘Umunna Bu Ike.’

Udi-Ezeagu USA emerged as a US-based organization with the mission to unite the indigenes of Udi and Ezeagu and to play vital role in the process of economic and political development of the communities. The hope is to make impact on education, rural development, promotion of healthy well being of our people, and economic empowerment of brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Above all, Udi-Ezeagu wants to facilitate peace and unity among the people, to collectively set agenda, solve common problems, and unite behind a common vision for all. As Udi-Ezeagu USA is gearing up to gather for the 5^th National Convention in Dallas, Texas on August 6 – 8, 2010, it is important for posterity to take a bird’s eye view of the progress and successes made so far.

In its first national convention in 2006, the communiqué stated of agreed intent on developing strategies to effect real changes in peoples’ lives through advocacy and constructive engagement with leadership at the local, state and federal levels in Nigeria. The same communiqué emphasized hope to actively participate in the political discourse in Enugu state and offer strong opinions when necessary to foster good relations and effective governance.

Udi-Ezeagu USA practiced what it preached by continuing on its path of political advocacy and economic development as indicated in a statement titled Enlightenment Program which includes media announcements, educative flyers and signs reminding people to actively participate in voter registration. Such advocacy activity of Udi-Ezeagu drove more people to the registration exercise making them eligible to vote. In addition, the leadership offered encouragement and support to Udi-Ezeagu candidates who ran for various elective positions as they congratulated those declared victors including but not limited the new chief executive of Enugu State, His Excellency Governor Sullivan Chime – a proud son of Udi-Ezeagu.

During the second national convention in 2007, held in Los Angeles, California, the leadership drafted one of the best and brightest sons of Udi-Ezeagu, Professor Christian Nwachukwu Okeke of Golden Gate University, to deliver the keynote address at the convention. They sought the help of another illustrious son, a legal luminary, who has represented the government of Nigeria and former Presidents, Attorney Emeka Ugwuonye of ECU Associates, who chaired the occasion and served as chief launcher. Furthermore, the new organization agreed to engage and support political candidates whose values and programs are in harmony with theirs as they promote democracy, good governance and good citizenship. In fact, the convention bore continuation of economic and political activities.

The 2008 national convention in New York City, NY, the leadership towed the same path with the presence of Hon. J. C. Udeh, the Commissioner for Commerce and Economic Development representing His Excellency Governor Sullivan Chime. The highlights of the convention were presentations made by the venerable Dr. M. O. Ene who dissected the issues and problems confronting our local communities as he presented a proposal calling for town government. Dr. Ezejiofo Udeh discussed the need to depart from the mindset of charity to the economic path of teaching a man how to fish. He outlined how we could repatriate the brains drained from our various communities converting such to a booming economic revival of our homeland as we create jobs.

Shortly after the 2008 convention, the Committee set up for 9^th Mile Health Project presented to the Board of Directors a proposal about establishing a health screening and diagnostic center. There were extensive deliberations and questions from Board Members who wanted to ensure its feasibility and sustainability before establishing such venture. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the tenacity of the Committee on Health, Udi-Ezeagu USA established the 9^th Mile Health Screening and Diagnostic Center, in 9^th Mile Corner, Ngwo, Udi LGA. The center opened to the public on May 8, 2009.

Due to this recent development, the fourth convention held in Houston, Texas, 2009 was exclusively geared towards the sustainability of the newly established 9^th Mile Health Screening and Diagnostic Center. The highlights of the convention were the adoption of amended constitution, presentations of papers in economic development, education and updates in the activities at the new center. Udi-Ezeagu USA leadership resolved to continue to raise money including taxing members, to sustain the health center because of the vital role and positive impact on our people.

Today, the Health Screening and Diagnostic Center staffed with Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals has attended to thousands of people offering free health screening of vital signs and other non-emergency health services. While the center is open and free to all, other non-profit and NGOs such as USAID, and WHO have taken notice and interest as we have received requests to use the center to extend their various programs to Enugu zone. Within one year, the Udi-Ezeagu USA 9^th Mile health project has surpassed the benefits of many medical missions embarked by numerous Diapsora Igbo organizations for decade. This unique achievement has touched the lives of many including those who are not even of Udi and Ezeagu. On your next visit home, it is advisable to stop by, check your vital signs, and pick up health literature at our center. You can even make a donation to support its progress.

Despite the obvious difficulties afflicting Diaspora organizations, there is still hope in the exemplary success of Udi-Ezeagu USA. This is new kid organization on the block made tremendous progress within a short period. In doing so, the leadership and membership of Udi-Ezeagu USA worked hard to veer away from those booby traps, which had stalled progress in others. With meager resources, mostly levied on members, Udi-Ezeagu USA has been able to write its name in gold as the first organization that established a physical presence amongst our people on the ground zero where the help is mostly needed. Moreover, Udi-Ezeagu USA has also established a chapter in Enugu. By adhering to Igbo philosophy and values, being our brothers’ keepers, serving our communities selflessly and in unity (Umunna bu Ike), Udi-Ezeagu USA departed from the antics of strife prevalent and veered towards providing the soothing balm to the rashes and acne discoloring the faces of most of our tepid performing Diaspora Igbo organizations. This is an exemplary success story worthy of immediate emulation and the glory goes to the men and women of Udi-Ezeagu USA, especially the leadership: Hon. Festus Okonkwo, President, Dr. Ezejiofo Sunny Udeh, Chairman of the Board, the Board Members, the National Executives, the Committees, the Patrons and Matrons, and above all, the supporters of Udi-Ezeagu USA. We have done well, and we must aspire to continue to do better.

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Hon. Ezejiofo Sunny Udeh, Ph.D., the Chairman of Board of Directors, aspires to represent Udi-Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, Nigeria