Institute

For

Agulu Development

Organization 

White Paper

Fidelis N. Umeh

Chicago, Illinois

September, 1993

Overview

At the inaugural meeting of Agulu Citizens in the United States of America (September 22, 1990), the Institute for Agulu Development (IAD) was founded. Thirty eight Agulu Citizens were invited to this inaugural meeting, twenty one attended (see Founders' List for the list of IAD Founding Members).

This Position Paper is an encapsulation of the mission of the IAD. The mission was outlined, debated, and adopted in principle by the founders of the IAD. The position paper is intended to serve four functions:

1. As reference material for all members of the IAD. The mission statement articulates the foundation on which the IAD is built.

2. As an input document to the formulation of the Institute by-laws. The nature and scope, as well as the goals and objectives of the IAD as documented in this mission statement form the basis on which the by-laws are drafted and approved by the IAD membership.

3. As a guide to friends of the IAD who wish to understand the nature of the IAD as well as its objectives and goals as an organization. Prospective members of the IAD will find this mission statement an important document to assist them in determining whether or not the IAD is the appropriate organization for them to join and participate in as full members.

4. As a required reading by every prospective member of the IAD and a prerequisite for admission into the Institute. This white paper defines in clear terms the mission, goals, and aspirations of the founders of the IAD. As such, understanding and acceptance of the tenets of this white paper is a requirement for admission into membership of the IAD.

The Conference

The conference was held on Saturday, September 22, 1990. Twenty One (21) Agulu Citizens representing twelve villages attended the conference. These twenty one delegates resided in 11 different states and spanned diverse professional disciplines in the Arts and Sciences. This heterogeneous setting was ideal for addressing the novel idea of an organization of Agulu Citizens in the United States of America with a common mission.

The issue before the founders was twofold:

1. What should the Nature (and Scope) of such an organization be?  Should it be organized for quarterly (or annual) gatherings? Should it be organized along professional lines? Should such an organization be an extension of similar organizations in Nigeria? Should there be an organization of Agulu Citizens in the United States at all?
   
   What should the membership requirements be for such an organization? Who should be eligible for membership? And what does membership imply? Are there any benefits? Obligations?
   
   Where does this organization fit in the context of other (and sometimes similar) organizations in the United States?
   
   What should the name of the organization be?

2. If we assumed that such an organization were desirable, what should its goals and objectives be? What should it provide its members? Non-members? What should its attitude be towards Nigeria? Towards Agulu?

The founders boldly addressed these issues and worked all day to arrive at a consensus over all the issues and questions facing the organization. The conference proceedings approached perfection, a model for future organization formulators to follow.  Each founder respected the views of every other founder (even when he/she disagreed with the other person's view) and the conference proceeded like clockwork from 9:00 AM till adjournment at 5:30 PM.

Two sub-committees were formed halfway through the conference to work separately on the two issues. At the conclusion of the working sessions of the subcommittees, the conference went back into full session to congeal and distill the deliberations of the sub-committees. During this full session, the founders developed a consensus on all the issues and set up appropriate execution vehicles for carrying on the work of the organization.

By the time of adjournment, all founders of the IAD unanimously pronounced the conference a success. Individually and collectively, the founders exclaimed that the day was well spent and that the mission of the Institute was a noble one.

Resolutions, Actions:

The founders adopted a set of resolutions and took several actions. Among the resolutions adopted are:

1. The name of the organization shall be INSTITUTE FOR AGULU DEVELOPMENT - IAD.

2. Chapters shall be formed in the United States of America wherever there are three or more Agulu Citizens who are so inclined. All Chapter activities are subordinated to the National Secretariat which shall administer the affairs of the IAD.

3. An Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be elected to conduct the affairs of the IAD.

4. By-laws shall be drawn up to govern the operations of the IAD.

5. Ad-hoc committees shall be used as vehicles for achieving the goals and objectives of the IAD.

The following actions taken at the conference helped ensure ongoing effectiveness of the organization:

1. The IAD elected Fidelis N. Umeh as President, Sampson Oli as Vice President, Chike Aniukwu as Secretary, and Dorothy Aneto as Treasurer. These officers will serve the organization for the next three years with a review of the President's performance at each annual conference.

2. The IAD will hold an annual conference each year. Minneapolis was chosen as the city for the next conference currently planned for August-September, 1991.

3. Mazi Chike Aniukwu, Mazi Dominic Ezeani, Mazi Isaac Obi, Mazi Emmanuel Oji, and Mazi Sampson Oli formed the by-laws committee that will draw up the by-laws for the IAD.

4. Mazi Chike Aniukwu, Ms. Nwamaka Obidiegwu, and Mazi Fidelis Umeh formed the ad-hoc committee to develop a Position Paper for the IAD.

5. The conference produced a list of desirable projects and goals which the IAD should pursue. A Projects Priorities Committee was formed to set these activities in the proper significance and time priorities for effectuation. The members of the Projects Priorities Committee are: Mazi Cyril Agupugo, Mazi Peter Okemmuo, and Mazi Christopher Obidiegwu.

IAD Mission Statement

The Institute for Agulu Development's mission is to:

1. Identify and prioritize needs in the town of Agulu, both immediate and long term. These needs encompass all aspects of lifestyle in Agulu but exclude religious and political issues.

2. Carry out such projects that will improve lifestyles and conditions of Agulu citizens at home and abroad.

3. Establish and maintain contact with Agulu citizens (both members and non-members of the IAD) in the United States and elsewhere, realizing that the IAD objectives and actions should philosophically be inclusive rather than exclusive.

4. Maintain close cooperation amongst the members of the IAD, with the understanding that our success in this endeavor can more readily come when we operate as a group rather than as individuals.

5. The IAD will guard against inactivity and dormancy by charging its National Secretariat to use ad-hoc and standing committees to operate on the goals and objectives on behalf of the IAD between the annual conventions.

IAD Program of Work

1. Education and Literacy

Education and fight against illiteracy are at the top of IAD's priorities. For the longest time, Agulu people have believed that advancement will come through education. In recent years however, a reversal of this trend has set in and has progressed to a point where there is true reluctance towards education.

IAD believes that this recent trend must be halted and reversed if Agulu people are to progress into the 21st century competitively. We therefore make the promotion of education and increase in literacy the highest priority objective of the IAD.

Over the next year and beyond, initiatives will undertaken by the institute to bring sharper focus on the value of education to a developing people.

2. Health Care Issues

Health Care is also a high priority item for Agulu. A cursory look at any of the villages quickly demonstrates this. Men and women who are in their forties look like very old people from inadequate health care. Children show signs of malnutrition and poor hygiene. 

Health Care is a multi-faceted issue encompassing nutrition, medical services, hygiene, general health education, etc. The IAD will endeavor, over the coming months and years, to address these issues as the IAD's resources permit.

3. Socio-Economic Development

Buttressing all the issues - both discussed and non-discussed - is the Socio-economic status of the people. Agulu has the capacity for a strong Socio-economic development (e.g. the Agulu Lake is an untapped source of possibilities) which, if appropriately leveraged, would propel the town onto a higher plateau of economic advancement.

Unfortunately, social issues and problems (e.g. religious) tend to cripple the town and render it unable to realize its full potential as a successful  economic entity.  Good ideas are ignored because of unrelated squabbles and reasons. Good minds are turned off after repeated attempts to steer the town in a fruitful and beneficial direction.

The IAD will work diligently to address socio-economic issues, bearing in mind that considerable limitations are imposed upon it by the geographic separation of the Institute's headquarters from Agulu homeland. Nonetheless, an optimistic analysis would see these limitations as opportunities if tackled with adequate forethought. There is a possibility that the warring factions may be getting tired of fighting. This may come into sharper focus as Agulu watches other towns advance past it, as Agulu sees the sighting of important capitals and industries in other towns while it is left behind because it cannot speak with a united voice.

When such a day arrives, it would then be opportune for a body (e.g. IAD) which has been totally uninvolved and impartial to contribute a viewpoint that will be listened to by both sides. This hope continues to burn in the IAD members' minds.

4. Women's Issues

A people cannot be considered to be advanced nor can a people fully benefit from its resources until it harnesses fully, all the resources at its disposal.

Women form a majority of the people of Agulu. The town will benefit more fully from its entire population if it looks with wisdom at issues pertaining to women. These issues include:

1. Maternity Issues - pre and post

2. Nutrition - pre-natal

3. Social support and infrastructure for widows and their children - this is particularly poignant because the indigenous support system is dying away because of modernization and there is nothing to replace it.

By addressing issues that are uniquely women's, we may demonstrate leadership that other towns will emulated. The IAD has tabled women's issues as a topic for consideration.

Appendix

Founders' List

Below is a list of the Founding Members of the IAD.