EDO GLOBAL ORGANIZATION CONVENTION COMMUNIQUE - 2004

THIS IS THE COMMUNIQU� OF THE EDO GLOBAL ORGANIZATION AT THE END OF THE 2004 CONVENTION HELD IN THE CITY OF VERONA\, ITALY ON NOVEMBER 13TH AND 14TH 2004.

PREAMBLE

Edo Global Organization, a Pan Edo Charity & Cultural Organization, held its 2nd Annual Unity Conference in Verona, Italy from Saturday 13TH to Sunday 14th November, 2004. The theme of the Conference was:

Edo State: working for a better tomorrow. 

The conference was attended by many Edo sons and daughters from home, Europe and the Americas.

A welcome address was presented by the National President of Edo National Association, Italy, Dr. Osamwonyi Igori.

The President of Edo Global Organization, Dr. Stephen Ogbonmwan. FMCOG addressed the conference on

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN AFTER THE LOTUS DESSERT.
 
A keynote address and a total of 4 papers were presented and exhaustively discussed. There were also two discussion sessions. All these were reviewed, at the end of which the following resolutions were proposed, debated and adopted and they are hereby issued as the Conference Communiqu�:

GENERAL ISSUES

1. The conference expressed it's gratitude to Omo N'Oba N' Edo Uku Apkolokpolo, Erediauwa, CFR, Oba of Benin Kingdom for his guidance and pledge its continued loyalty to him and the Edo Nation. Oba gha to okpere. Ise!!!

2. The conference thanked all participants from the United States of America, Autsria, Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom, Nigeria as well as the host Organization, Italy.

3. The keynote speech, EDO UNITY: A MEANS TO A BETTER TOMORROW was presented by Prince (Prof.) Iro Eweka, Emeritus Professor of Psychology O.U. BRISTOL, UK. Who addressed the need for the unification of the organization's purpose, and the global nature of the organization becomes manifestly apparent.

4. Mrs. Omololu Edelokun Ogbeni of Omosede International Women Outreach Program of Los Angeles speech was titled "HOW DO WE ENHANCE THE UNITY AND VIRTUES OF EDO WOMEN IN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE OF THE 21ST CENTURY".  Her focus was on the need to appreciate our heritage and re-enact the virtues and values of the Edo Nation.  

5. The two time Governor of the Defunct Bendel State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. General Osaigbovo Samuel Ogbemudia (Rtd) CON. Presented a paper titled "QUOTA SYSTEM IN EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT: IS THIS STILL RELEVANT IN A CAPITALIST AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY LIKE NIGERIA?"  The General supported the idea of quota system having regards to the circumstances in the Country but opined that it is no longer very useful in our deregulated and private sector driven economy.
He called for the repackaging of Edo State to meet the current and future challenges. He also invited participants to invest at home and concluded by raising ten soul-seeking questions for the Edo people in Diaspora.

6. Engr. Barry Igbeare, President of National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy, presented a speech on EDO UNITY: THE ONLY WAY TO PROGRESS, whose focus was on the need to look at the future of the Edo people in ITALY. The importance of supporting one another in the area of uplifting each other in order to present a better image in the community.

7. Sister Tina Iyare presented a speech on THE NEED TO PROMOTE EDO LANGUAGE AND TRADITIONAL VALUES BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE DIASPORA. She presented the newly invented Multi-Media Edo language program which is designed to provide easy access and promote the teaching of Edo Language.

During the discussions, the conference saw a need to set up a committee to look into the aims and objectives of the Edo Global Organization, Edopkamakhin, and Edo National Association USA with a view to harmonizing all Edo Organizations. 

Similarly, the conference took a look at Socio-political developments in the State, particularly the build up towards 2007.  It called for the adoption of dialogue in arriving at the next leadership in the state, having due regards for the need for peaceful co-existence, justice, excellence and the demographic configuration of the State.  

SPECIFIC ISSUES

1. Conference agreed that the central objective should be moving Edo State from a civil service to an enterprising economy, for the effective development of the State.  The following factors were identified as critical to the attainment of the central objectives:

i. Security.
ii. Education and health.
iii. Women's role.
iv. Youth development.
v. Funding and empowerment.
vi. Infrastructure
      vii. Human Recourses
vii. Poverty alleviation & employment.
2. Conference addressed each of the above factors. It called for the Rehabilitation/reconstruction of major roads in Edo State and decided to start the implementation of the central objective with the following projects:

1, Provisions of BOREHOLE FOR WATER IN IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES
2. Rehabilitation of all the traffic light in Benin City.
3. Rehabilitations of selected school buildings in Edo state.

Towards this end, the EDO Global Organization resolved to send a delegation to
Edo State in the new year to work out the modality for the commencement of these projects.

3. Conference then adopted a resolution requesting Gen. Ogbemudia to oversee the implementation of the proposed projects. 

4. Conference harped on Edo Renaissance and called for the teaching of Edo Language and History in all Institutions in Edo State.  The conference appreciates the establishment of The Institute of Benin Studies at Ezoti street, Benin City and called for the re-establishment of the Institute of Benin Studies at the University of Benin and for the institute to be introduced at the Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, and all similar institutions. 

THIS COMMUNIQUE WAS ADOPTED AT THE UNITY CONFERENCE IN SESSION IN VERONA, ITALY, ON SUNDAY, November 14, 2004, AND SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING.

Prince(Prof.) Iro Eweka              Gen.Osaigbovo Samuel Ogbemudia CON
 Dr. Stephen Ogbonmwan
President. Edo Global Organization.
Dr. Osamwonyi Igori                             Augustina Omosigho Iyare

President. Edo National Asso. Italy.               Financial Sec, Edo Global Org