July 5, 2008 Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Mr. Abraham O. Okomanyi, Mr. Abdullahi Bello, Dr. Joseph Akomodi and Dr. Sunday Okomanyi Abraham.

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

Comments from Home Concerning Liberation of Ajaokuta from the Indians.
EVI received a couple of responses from home regarding our report in the May 2008 minutes on the role played by Mr. Ishiaka Arudi Shuaibu in liberating Ajaokuta Steel Complex from the hands of the Indians. We have been informed that Ebira Peace Project and possibly other organizations within Ebira played significant roles toward the liberation of Ajaokuta. EVI has decided to work with its members at home to get a complete list of individuals and organizations involved. EVI is considering presenting special awards to all organizations and individuals that played roles in this endeavour. Awards will also be presented to modern musicians that have had positive impacts on the lives of the Ebira people. Award ceremony will take place in 2009 in Nigeria during EVI’s 5th anniversary.

EVI Scholarship Awards.
A plan has been set forth toward the award ceremony. Award certificates have been created and will be sent to our members at home along with an award sum of $1000 for each candidate. The award ceremony will receive press coverage and effort is underway to provide our members at home with means of videoing and taking pictures for EVI’s archive.

EVI will write thank-you letters to those who applied for the scholarship but were not successful.

Celebrating EbiraVonyaInternational’s 5th Anniversary
The executive members have agreed that this event should take place in Nigeria. A tentative time has been set. Detailed outline of plans will be drafted in the coming months but the events will include meetings with other organizatioins, community leaders etc. to discuss Ebira’s social problems and possible resolutions. We will be contacting home-based organizations in the nearest future for collaboration. EVI will utilize the opportunity to launch its magazine. Topics that will be covered in the magazine include EVI’s vision, achievements of the association, Ebira in Diaspora, the importance of ethnic identity/the menace of clannish divides in Ebiraland and Ebira culture and fashion.

Ogaminana Massacre: EVI’s Letter to the President of Nigeria
This letter has been approved to be sent to the President of Nigeria. The letter will be sent through a member at home.

Invitation from Home to Participate in Ebira Day Event
A home-based member will represent EVI at this event. EVI will send a congratulatory letter to the attendees of the event.

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