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THE ADHISCANA EXECUTIVE IN NORTH AMERICA AND CANADA.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
DR. CHARLES NGOZI IMO   - PRESIDENT
MRS. PEACE NZEADIBE AZUOGU - VICE PRESIDENT
MS. UGONMA NZOTTA OGBONNA -ASS. SECRETARY
MRS. OLUCHI ERONDU UKOMADU  -TREASURER
MS. UGOCHI WIGWE -SECRETARY
MR. AZUBUIKE AZUOGU -FINANCIAL SECRETARY
DR. MICHAEL NKWA JACOBS- NON CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE



Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of all the members of this Prestigious Association, ADIHISCANA, especially the guests, I stand here tonight to thank our hosts, Members of the Tri-State Branch of DHISCANA, for inviting us to this great occasion. Special thanks to the Tri-State President, my very good friend and a classmate (Class of 71), Mr. Uche Njoku, and his executive members for a job well done.  To the Convention Committee Members, on whose watchful eyes this masterpiece we are witnessing tonight is created, I salute you.  Mr. Chidi Emehara, though one of the executive members of the Tri-State, deserves my respect, for acting as a town crier, should I say, National crier, who single handedly wrote all of us into action.  You are a distinguished gentleman, and this Association owes you a lot.  “Dare to be a Daniel…” Thank you so very much for you effort.  That is the IHIE way of doing things, and that’s what this is all about. Friends, we have been challenged. Is chief Chika in the house?  Thank you also for calling all of us names and “bad-mouthing” every one of us, which in a way jump-started us into action.  I know, and believe that you have many amends to make.  I am happy I am not in your shoes.

My seniors, my classmates, and my juniors, ladies and gentlemen, it is with a heart full of happiness and humbleness that I stand here tonight to address this distinguished group of people; people that I had a common beginning with. I don’t know about you, I hold this Association, this togetherness, at the very top of the lists of Associations I attach my name to.

Our School song which we just sang, has for decades, invited us to come from North and South, and from East and West. For our hearts to be filled

with love and loyalty; so that our hearts can be rekindled like fire with sticks of love that only comes from God. Who knows that it will take us well over 50 years to do just that? Who knows that it will happen, instead of in Nigeria were it was intended, but in this great Nation of North America and on their Independence Day. Should we consider this gathering just a coincidence or a foretaste of what is to come?  Remember, ladies and gentlemen, that greatness does not just happen, people make it happen.  That we are here tonight, indicates that we have accepted to take that first giant step towards making it happen.

Some of us had previously asked, while some are still asking several questions, for example: (1) What is the main objective of our coming together? (2) What is in the aim and purpose? (3) What are we planning to achieve in all these togetherness? Friends, look around, most of us did not come to this Convention because no one has answered to their satisfaction, those questions.  But, blessed are those of you who came without waiting for those questions to be answered.  And blessed are those of us, who, by faith came, despite many unanswered question.  If I may ask just one question to our doubtful friends with this disease called “Thomas Syndrome”, the question will be, who do they you have in mind that will answer those questions for them?  I want us to understand that we are all in this one together, and nobody points to, or looks at anyone else for answers.  All answers will come from us, to us, by us, and within us. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why we are here.

That you are here tonight places you among the “Cream of the Crop”, puts you among the Very Best Ihie has and will ever produce, and classifies you as men and women of “Action”. Men and women who speak and do exactly what they said they will do.  You have proven to be men and women who do stand for the right though heavens fall. You have proven to be a group of men and women that people are never afraid to go places with.  You are in my books, “Men and Women of Honor”. I dare you to please keep it that way.

Men and women of honor (please accept that as your new name), we are here in New Jersey for a very good reason, and as such, we have become participants in something very good that is about to happen.  But, there are different kinds of participants, for example, (1) those who jump into things because they see others do so; (2) those who just came to see if it can be done; (3) those who just came to see you fall flat in your face so that they can say, we told you so; (4) those who came because it is just the right thing to do; or (5) those who came to see what they can possibly do to make a difference.  No matter your reasons for coming, I thank you just for being here. As I thank you tonight, I also want to encourage you to just take a second look around you, see and chart with one another, and then try to re-think your own reason or reasons for coming.  I am requesting and begging that we all hold each other’s hands tonight, and know that we are “IT”. The best foot that is always used for the first step, the very best, and the Cream of the Crop. If so, then, we must ask our selves, if we, the best foot, the very best, the cream of the crop of Adventist/Ihie High School cannot do it, who will? This, brothers and sisters, should be our biggest challenge. A challenge that I am very sure we are equal to. 

We are here to answer questions together.  We are here to explore our capabilities. We are here to learn how to reach out and touch one another both here in North American and in Nigeria. We are here to listen to each others joys and sorrows.  We are here not only to listen, but to share in each others joys and sorrows. Most especially, brother and sisters we are hear to see and admire those we had a common beginning with, those that so many years ago, sitting, walking, eating, and sleeping side-by-side, we started learning what life was all about.  Most especially those that we cannot even forget no matter how hard we may try. Friends, I don’t know about you, but to me and my family, I could not have asked for a better place to spend this weekend.

Now that we have finally made it to New Jersey; Now that we have taken this giant steps, it is incumbent on us to make these steps count. In conclusion, I will leave with you this quote from the write-up of one of us, my friend, and a classmate, the one and only Durell, that states: “Experience has shown that where Associations are regarded merely as unions of individuals, such Associations inherit the weaknesses of their members - willing minds in weak bodies. As a result, contemporary thinking is trying to focus on Associations as instruments of action and productivity. The human beings function to oil the machinery whose operation is perpetual. The machine could be tooled and re-tooled to profuse the expected products. As we gather with this new thinking, let's remember we are coming to commission a machine that should be capable of churning out desirable products that will have high market appeal. As we converge to tinker on how to use this machine to bring desirable changes over time, let us do so with faith and expectation of the best from Him in whose Name the institution was built, Amen.”

My prayer is for God to bless this Brand New Association, give us, her members, good understanding of the problems facing us, and provide us with the wisdom to solving them. 

I thank you so very much for answering this call to action.  I also thank you in great anticipation for your support, love, and renewed interest in this Association.  Together, I believe we can win this good fight, and together, I believe we can build a Prosperous Association.

Thank you again, and may GOD BLESS YOU.

 ____________________________

Dr. Charles N. Imo, President