Minutes for Executive Meeting. Date: 11/12/2017
The Executive meeting was chaired by our National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje. The meeting began at 7.15 p.m ET with opening prayers by Tata Emmanuel Ikoe. This was followed by opening remarks by the National President as well as a roll call for all the executive members present in the meeting. The National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje mentioned that, our 501 C (3) has been applied for, and she hopes that by our next executive meeting, we will have a 501C(3), since the IRS has already sent a receipt that they are working on it. The National President also mentioned that she has been sick and she will like the Secretary General Tata Emmanuel Ikoe to coordinate the meeting.
Tata Ekinneh Agbaw who is an Executive Adviser took the floor, and mentioned that SouthWest Region produces about 65% of the GDP of Cameroon but it is not benefiting from the fallout of these products. He mentioned that in terms of ministers, we have been led from behind, although everyone cannot be a minister, but if the government could have appointed some of our elites to full-fledged ministerial positions that could help address some of the issues we are facing in the SouthWest Region. He took the example of Oroko land, which produces the greatest amount of cash crop and natural resources, but said we don’t have any full-fledged minister; he cited the case of Tata Dr. Dion Ngute whom the government has made a minister delegate for common wealth, which is one of the three sub-ministerial positions under the Ministry of External Relations. He also said that when Tata Dr. Dion Ngute was Director of ENAM, he helped many of our Oroko sons and daughters and that if the government wants to help our people we should be given a full-fledged ministerial positions or made a Director of a company or institution so that we too can benefit from the national cake which we contribute to massively in terms of resources. He continued by saying that Oroko land produces petroleum products but we have no gas stations, roads, telecommunication etc.
Tata Victor Nanje who is our Public Relations Officer (PRO) took the floor in support of Tata Ekinneh Agbaw by saying that out of the 65% of GDP produced by the SouthWest Region about 45% comes from the Oroko land, and in terms of government positions Oroko people should be at the mantle.
Tata Chief Victor Obie, who is the president of the Georgia chapter weighed in by saying that, our people whose main activity is farming produce their farm products and sell them to people from other tribes who have money to transport them to the market and they end up making the money. But if our roads were good, some farmers can take their products directly to the market themselves and make money that is worth their labor. Tata Ekinneh Agbaw, also jumped in to continue with some of the demise our people are facing by saying that even those who were given licenses to exploit crude oil in Oroko land were all from the French region except for one man from Manyu Division who was also given a license. The National President mentioned that she wants us to come up with a 12-member committee that will help to draft a strategic plan to tackle some of the issues our people are facing back home in terms of development. A consensus was reached to come up with a 12-member committee which will involve Orokans in the diaspora.
Tata Adolphus Ati who is our Technical Adviser, took the floor to talk about the Color of Roses Medical Mission that will take place in 2018 in Cameroon, organized by Dr. Dasi Sylvia. He mentioned that Dr. Dasi Sylvia has medical supplies that can be used to treat people in Oroko land and she works with medical personnel on the ground to make sure that the free medications goes along with consultations for people who need them for their health problems. He was asked if the Coordinator of this Medical Mission Dr. Dasi Sylvia, could come to our executive meeting and explain to us the technicalities involved, in terms of finances and human resources before we can be thinking of considering the project. He mentioned that he has spoken to Dr. Dasi Sylvia, just after the request was asked by members of the executive and Dr. Dasi Sylvia has accepted to come to our next executive meeting to do a brief presentation of the Medical Mission and answer any available questions that we may have.
In terms of how this mission can work, Tata Adolphus Ati also mentioned that Tata Dr. Ebongo of Ekondo titi will be contacted for the coordination of medical personnel, and Ekondo titi would be an ideal place where the medical supplies can be kept, since it is between Kumba, Mbonge and Mundemba. However, this medical mission will require a sum of $20,000 to be given to Dr. Dasi Sylvia for the transportation and other logistics to Oroko land. Tata Ekinneh Agbaw weighed in by saying that, what are the kinds of medications that she will provide because we are talking of $20,000 which is a huge sum of money, and also there is a control of medical supplies by a company in Cameroon which specializes in drug regulations and this may affect the feasibility of the mission. But since we have concluded to wait on her presentation, then by next meeting we will know more about the mission.
The Meeting proceeded with Iya Noami Ebile who is our National Treasurer, mentioning that we can give a specific time for her to come in the next executive meeting and make her presentation. The meeting agreed on giving her the beginning of our meeting time which is 7.00 pm. ET.
The National President also asked the Treasurer if we know the exact amount of people who have paid their pledges made during the National Convention but the Treasurer said no, since the Financial Secretary Iya Caroline Elangwe was not present in the meeting. However, the Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile mentioned that they have received the $500 pledge from the former National President Tata Prince Fred Mediko and the National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje $1000 respectively. Also the 2018 National convention issues was raised by the National President who mentioned that the Georgia chapter has raised some concerns with regards to the change of venue. Tata Ekinneh Agbaw weighed in by saying that the Georgia chapter does not have the right to raise issues that has to do with the National, rather they have to pass through the National board.
The National Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile mentioned that the National President brought up the issue because it was in the agenda of the Georgia chapter, but Tata Ekinneh Agbaw who is the adviser to the executive branch rebutted by saying that the Georgia chapter should not put the National issues in their meeting agenda.
Still on the 2018 Convention matters the Public Relations Officer Tata Victor Nanje mentioned that he advised that we send a message to the General Assembly through our OCA-USA forum addressing this issue, and see how we as a people can move forward. The National President mentioned that she will like to see that all the chapters have regalia for our Cultural nights. Iya Bake Forseh who is our Cultural Secretary weighed in by saying that our cultural nights should reflect who we are by dressing in our cultural regalias, and that it should be mandatory for each chapter to have their own cultural uniforms.
Iya Maseki Ekole who is our Assistant Social Secretary also weighed in by saying that we should be giving awards to the best male and female dresses in our cultural nights to encourage people.
Tata Chief Victor Obie also mentioned that the Washington D.C chapter issue is not yet resolved and that the President should submit a written note to the National President with regards to the state of affairs. The President of the D.C chapter who is also our National Vice President Tata Mosongo Nanje mentioned that, he has submitted a written note to the former National President Tata Prince Fred Mediko and he hoped the current National President have it in her file. On that note the meeting was dismissed.
Those who attended the meeting included:
Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje- National President
Tata Mosongo Nanje- Vice President
Tata Emmanuel Ikoe-Secretary General
Tata Etukeni Agbaw-Deputy Secretary General
Tata Victor Nanje-Public Relations Officer
Iya Naomi Ebile-Treasurer
Iya Gwendoline Forseh –Cultural Secretary
Iya Ekole Maseki- Deputy Social Secretary
Tata Adolphus Ati Technical Adviser
Tata Ekinneh Agbaw-Executive Adviser
Tata Chief Victor Obie Georgia Chapter President
Done By:
Tata Emmanuel Ikoe
Secretary General ( OCA_USA)
