May 24, 2008 Meeting Minutes-EVI Monthly Meeting

Posted By: Dr. Joseph O. Akomodi, New York, USA.

Attendees: Mr. Abraham O. Okomanyi, Mr. Abdulyekeen Ozigis, Mr. Abdullahi Bello and Dr. Sunday Okomanyi Abraham.

Chairman’s Opening Remark
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting and asked that the meeting be started.

Winners of EVI Scholarship.
The participants of the meeting compared notes on the applicants based on the assessment of their academic performances and essays on “The Impact of Ethnic Divides on the Lives of Ebira People”. The decision reached was in favour of the only female candidate, Miss Halimat Omengwu Siyaka and one of the three male applicants, Mr. Oricha Adeiza Silas.

Dispatching Scholarship Funds to Winners.
Two home-based members have been identified as EVI ambassadors, who will ultimately deliver the funds to the recipients. The treasurer will first transfer the funds to an account in a bank in Nigeria in the name of one of the members. Once the money is collected from the bank, the two members will meet with the recipients to hand over the scholarship. A letter will be written by EVI to the recipients congratulating them on their success.

Advertisement Winners of Scholarship at Home
EVI is exploring means of advertising the winners of the scholarship at home. No medium has been chosen yet. This will be further discussed with home-based members to choose the most appropriate medium.

Celebrating Ebiravonya International’s 5th Anniversary
Next year, 2009, will mark the 5th year of existence of EVI. There is a strong favour to celebrate the event in Nigeria in order to use the opportunity to promote peace and unity among the ebira people. Several ideas have been suggested that will be covered during this event. These ideas will be discussed in more detail in due course. However, there is a strong need to start reinforcing our base at home. EVI will start making contacts at home, particularly, with people that despite the odds have continued to fight for the people of Anebira. One of such people that EVI has heard about is Mr. Ishiaka Arudi, who has unconditionally, selflessly and relentlessly fought for Anebira bringing about a positive change in the society. Mr. Arudi has single-handedly fought to ensure that Ajaokuta Steel Company is freed from the hands of the Indians, who have over the last couple of years been looting the properties. Mr. Arudi is a model for all of us. We would like to thank Mr. Arudi for his effort and we enjoin all our members to join in the crusade for the emancipation of our people from the burden of self enslavement.

Ogaminana Massacre – Approving Drafted Letter to the President
The letter is still being approved.

Invitation from Home to Participate in Ebira Day Event
This item is pending.

Meeting Adjourned
The Chairman thanked all the participants of the meeting and adjourned the meeting.