Tuesday, November 12, 2013

THE PATRONS CLUB


 
ARISE NIGERIA PATRONS CLUB MEETING

 

November 8, 2013

 

An Emergency Patrons meeting was originally scheduled for November 5, 2013, but due to lack of quorum the meeting was rescheduled for today November 8, 2013. 

 

Attendance:

 

Chief Mpaka Princewill - Chair

Dr. Fenibo Braide - Interim Secretary

Mr.Kalakuku Abel Kuku - Financial Secretary

Dr. Ugoh Anisionwu - Patron

Dr. John Aruegodore Oyiborhoro - Patron

 

Members started deliberating at about 8:16pm EDT with opening prayer by Dr. Oyiborhoro. Igbororo.

 

The Honorable Chair Patrons club, Chief Mpaka Princewill opened the floor with a brief guideline and parameters for duration of this meeting. He went on to encourage patrons to actively participate both financially and show physical presence at the upcoming inaugural convention of ARISE NIGERIA, November 15 & 16, 2013 in Atlanta.

 

In his words, "Patrons have the responsibility and obligation to set the parameters to move 'Arise Nigeria' forward by undertaking current policy  evaluation, and assessing existing programs in Nigeria. We should ask ourselves why some policies are NOT effectively implemented and proffer solutions to implement such policies and programs."  

 

Chief Princewill also suggested the followings: Patrons club should explore areas of partnership with the current administration in Nigeria, (a) by Reviewing and recommending ethical standards, (b) by formulating a need assessment tool to measure workable and non workable programs; (c) we should think about how we can collaborate and coordinate with the ruling party, etc....

 

The Hon Chair opening address took nearly 14-minutes with loaded impeccable ideas on how 'Arise Nigeria' under the stewardship of the Patrons club can impact Social change in Nigeria through advocacy and actionable intelligence in the satisfaction of  policy goal congruency. He expressed the need for the elites to curtail the promotion of "self-perpetuating oligarchy" and focus on paradigm shift from over concentration in the Oil sector to other sectors of the economy.

 

Dr. Anisionwu, immediately after the chair's presentation congratulated him and asked (jokingly presumably) "Mr. Chair are you running for public office in Nigeria? I will work with you if you do." Anyhow Dr. Anisionwu agreed with the Chair's powerful presentation and said 'It makes sense' but skeptical on how the Patrons club can be able to achieve all that. He reiterated that Arise Nigeria is a great organization with good people, but we should all endeavor to meet with the National Working Committee in Atlanta convention to strategically map out our role.

 

Dr. Oyiborhoro agrees, but stated that he wanted further clarification on the scope of responsibility for the Patrons. "We need to know our role in Atlanta." he said. He implored us to work towards the resuscitation of a more progressive governance in Nigeria.
 
The Hon Chair responded to all with very significant insight and  knowledge of the operational dynamics of government by inculcating the virtues of democratic ideals and the need for Cooperation, Collaboration, and Coordination.
 
Mr. Abel Kuku had concern with the pathetic unemployment situation in Nigeria and impact of ASUU strike on students and parents. He made a non scientific reference of ANNUAL graduates of Nigeria. He said Nigeria produces about 1.2 million graduates every year with ONLY 200,000 employment. "This is a huge problem" he said. He suggested we should devote our time to think how to tackle this problem in Atlanta.
 
Dr. Oyiborhoro, queries why our policies are NOT working. He ask: "How can we resuscitate our country, corruption has consumed our society. He stated the need for us to focus our discussion in Atlanta on Human Capacity Development and development in Nigeria..
 
Finally, collectively PATRONS agreed to meet Nov 15, face to face at the LOBBY of the Hotel in Atlanta to continue deliberation if necessary.
 
Meeting was moved for adjournment by Dr. Fenibo Braide, and seconded by Dr. Anisionwu.  
 
The meeting ended about 9:12pm EDT with brief remark and closing prayer by the Hon Chair, Chief Princewill.
 
Respectively,
 
Dr. Fenibo Braide
SECRETARY----viewed again Nov 24, 2013