EDO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IN THE AMERICAS
13TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION
�MOTOR CITY � 2004�
EDO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IN
THE AMERICAS, INC.
13th Annual National Convention
Crowne Plaza
Romulus- Detroit, Michigan, USA.
September 3 �?" September 5, 2004
Communique
The Edo National Association in the Americas, Inc. (ENA) held its 13th annual
national convention in Detroit, Michigan from September 3 through September 5,
2004. The Edo Heritage Foundation n of Michigan hosted the convention. The
President of the Edo Heritage Foundation and Chairman of the Council of
Presidents (COP) of the ENA, Mr. Felix Iyoha, was the Chairman of the
convention. The convention attracted notable dignitaries and many people from
all works of life including intellectuals, lawmakers, traditional chiefs,
businessmen, businesswomen, and many distinguished Edo sons and daughters from
all over the world.
Some of the people who graced the convention included Chief Nosakhare Isekhure,
the Isekhure of Benin, who brought a goodwill message from our royal father, Omo
N' Oba N' Edo,Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa II, the Oba of Benin, Honorable
Arigbe Osula of the Nigerian House Representative, ENA officers, members of the
Council of Presidents (COP) �?" Presidents of member organizations of the ENA,
members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Dan Austin (the son of the famous Bishop
Edokpolor of Benin City), who delivered the keynote speech on �?oHealth
Promotion and Disease Prevention among the People of Edo State,�?� Dr. Cynthia
Austin, who spoke on women health problems, Dr. Peter Agho, who delivered a
lecture on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Dr. Steve Ogbonmwan, who
gave a speech on �?oMaintaining Good Health in a Noxious Political Climate and
Ailing Economy,�?� and our very own and vibrantly dynamic Dr. Rosaline Oseme
Okosun, who piloted another successful Library Project fundraising drive for the
ENA at the convention.
The convention was a blend of business, social, and cultural activities guided
by a recurring motif that focused on health issues and problems confronting our
people. As remarked by one enthusiastic conventioneer, the convention theme,
�?oHealth Promotion and Disease Prevention�?� was suitable for the occasion,
well timed, and succinct.
Besides providing a social atmosphere for interaction and meeting of old friends
and making new ones, the 13th annual convention in Detroit was a gala of festive
activities and events, which included the COP meetings for the deliberation of
internal matters of the ENA, speeches and lectures, town hall discussion session
in which the participants looked closely at ways to obviate the nagging health
issues confronting our people. The convention also featured cultural
extravaganza, which included art works and display, children program, and other
cultural activities. As with the preceding convention of 2003, the official
pronouncement of the convention is derived from the issues and matters discussed
or presented during these sessions. At the conclusion of all events on September
5, 2004, participants were swept with enthusiastic display of elation and
resonated constructively as follows:
1. Recognized that the ENA is steadily advancing as the premier organization of
all Edo people in the Diaspora.
2. Recognized the need to and resolved, at the COP meetings, to be properly
organized by effecting meaningful changes in the structural framework of the
organization to enable the ENA to better harness the material and human
resources at its disposal to effect developmental programs in all parts of Edo
State.
3. Reaffirmed the need for Edo people to come together as one and noted that Edo
people in the Diaspora need to be more proactive and take the lead in
positioning Edo State in its rightful place among the states in the nation.
4. Reflected on the poor health care system in our society and acknowledged the
needs for both public and private prepaid health care system through a reliable,
trusted institution by formulating a formidable health care policy and
strategy.
5. Affirmed the need for practical solutions to the health care crisis by
developing health care infrastructure, private and public health care system,
financing system, and health care and pharmaceutical industry to ensure and
support a viable and sustainable health care program in our homeland.
6. Recognized the idea of a committee to look into certain areas of our
deplorable health care system and welcomed the need to explore ways to approach
and work with the government to launch a technology-based health care plan in
Edo State as a way to practically resolve or alleviate the health care crisis
besieging our people.
7. Expressed the need for adequate and efficacious rule of law and order to
guarantee the security and protection of investments in health care in our
society.
8. Recognized some of the common health issues and diseases such as high blood
pressure, diabetes, and hypertension that afflict us and what we can do to
effectively manage and prevent these diseases.
9. Embraced the need for us to properly manage our health through good feeding
habits with emphasis in the consumption of more fruits and vegetables as a
better way to avoid unhealthy foods in addition to exercises and other physical
activities to keep us in shape.
10. Acknowledged the bad effects and damaging consequences of bad habits like
smoking and excessive drinking and recognized the necessity for us to understand
our appropriate Body Mass Index (BMI) and how we can prolong our lives by
bringing down our body weight through diet and physical exercise.
11. Recognized some of the ways to prevent common sickness such as malaria for
those in the Diaspora who may want to visit home by taking anti-malaria drugs
before, during, and after the visit and accented that the best way to prevent
such deadly disease as the HIV by through abstinence or monogamy.
12. Recognized some of the health problems of women, the major causes of death
among women, and what can be done to prevent some of these health problems
confronting our women.
As with the preceding conventions, the Detroit convention provided a forum and
opportunity for Edo indigenes and lovers of Edo to reflect and dialogue on
issues of common interest. In all, conventioneers acknowledged the need for us
to help our leaders and public officials to be more purposeful and visionary in
the discharge of their statutory and fiduciary duties and responsibilities to
the people of Edo State.
By
Dr. Austin Agho
Mr. Ericson Ugbo
Mr. Hillary Evbayiro
Mr. Osa Omoruyi
