COMMUNIQUE FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

(July 6, 2010)

Fellow Members and Friends of Ika National Association, USA, Inc:

I hope everyone made it safely back from our fun-filled convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (July 1 - 3, 2010). If so, we give thanks to our God Almighty for His infinite mercies!

First, I want to extend a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to the North Carolina Chapter of Ika Association for a job well done. A special thank you to Mr. Cliff Afam (President, North Carolina Chapter), Mrs. Doris Afam (his lovely wife and the First Lady of North Carolina Chapter), and a whole host of others who made this convention possible.

To the National Planning Committee Members under the able leadership of our immediate past National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ezekiel Odum, we say "thank you" for your unselfish dispositions. Many thanks to members of various other committees. May God reward each and every one of you most abundantly. We hope to continue improving, and look forward to making future conventions bigger and better.

It was my understanding that our children had fun and even exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses so they can remain in touch. We as adults have a thing or two to learn from our children. More elaborate activities could be planned for our children only if information, such as the number and ages of children who plan to attend our convention is provided to the planning committee ahead of time. Many requests and reminders were sent to each chapter over several months for names, number of children and their ages so adequate planning could be made to accommodate our children. Only a handful of names were provided, however over 140 children attended thereby creating an uncomfortable situation not only for the host chapter and the National Planning Committee members, but also for our children as every child present wanted to go on the planned field trip.

Additionally, it is my fervent prayer that we will one day learn to keep to time. Maximum utility of convention agenda could only be achieved if everyone keeps to the schedule and arrive timely as stipulated. We welcome any suggestion as to how to improve future conventions.

To members of the Board of Directors, we are still awaiting the final reconciliation of accounts from the convention activities; we will make the financial reports from the convention available to you in due course.
Secondly, I say "THANK YOU" to our Speakers, namely, Hon. Prince Sam Obi and Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah and all to all who attended. As stated in my communiqué issued in 2008, this administration is not going to bore you with many promises, but suffice it to say that this executive body will always follow protocol as mandated by our National Constitution.
In the short-term, we will:

• Continue pursing a 501c-(3) Exempt Status from the Internal Revenue Service. We need this as a national body.
• Make our website (ikausa.org) a good venue for information.

In the long-term, we will:

• Continue in our efforts to help improve the health and well being of our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, etc at home by pursuing capital projects such as the construction of diagnostic clinic in Ika land.
• As mandated by the Board of Directors, we will continue to offer limited number of academic scholarships to students admitted into institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

Beyond these, we will continue to work on strengthening the National Association by encouraging full participation by local chapters. As National President I will remain in constant communication with all local chapters. Let us remember that without local chapters, there is no National Organization. There will be open lines of communication between local chapters and the National Executive body. I am very accessible and I do return phone calls promptly!

Additionally and in coordination with our brothers and sisters at home, we will continue to embark on projects of benefit to our people in Ika Local Government Areas of Delta State. Let us recognize the fact that those of us here in the United States of America cannot do it alone; but working together with our brothers and sisters at home, I am sure we can accomplish a great deal for our people. Again, the key is open line of communication and honesty amongst us. Honesty will remain the key in this administration!!!

Once more to my fellow executive officers I say, I know we all have very busy schedules; but let us not allow that to impede our responsibility of serving our people. I know we will leave a legacy - GOOD or BAD! The legacy we leave will be entirely left up to us. I am ready to fulfill my responsibilities as the National President. I know what the Constitution bestows on my position. So, let us roll up our sleeves and give Ika land and her people what they deserve - a worthy organization they can look up to and be proud of.

I know we will face criticisms. There will always be those who love to sit on the sidelines and do nothing but criticize. I welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticisms, but have no respect for anyone who criticizes just for the sake of criticizing. While we may not agree with all positions and/or issues, this administration will always carryout the people's mandates.

We will have disagreements or differences of opinion; but let us handle those situations constructively, and not destructively. I am confident we will make Ika proud! I wish you all luck in your respective positions. It is indeed an honor to join you all in serving our people. May God guide and give us the strength and wisdom to do the right things for our people.

I believe with all my heart that our Lord will continue to bless this noble organization (IKA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION) in many wonderful ways and that much good will come from it for Ika people throughout the universe. As we become sincerely interested in one another and begin to fervently pray for each other, I believe that God will accomplish some great things for our people through us.

Thank you all for your loving and open spirit, but most importantly we ask that you pray for this incoming administration as we embark on our journey to lead this organization into bigger and better visions. Please wish us success and God's guidance!

Here are your newly elected Executive Officers:

Long Live Ika National Association, USA, Inc. Onye Nwe Ihia. Ka Onye Nwe Egho.

I remain

Michael Ndidi Ebie
National President
Ika National Association, USA, Inc.