*Opening:* The Igbo community convened at Sacred Heart Parish in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on the 25th of February, 2024, for their general meeting. Mrs. Rita Njioke led the opening prayer, followed by welfare checks from the chairman, Mr. Antony-Claret, who warmly welcomed everyone, especially the newcomers, encouraging sharing of past experiences and greater participation in the community’s events.
*Opening remarks* Mr. Antony-Claret, in his opening remarks, stressed the importance of contributions and focusing on key issues as the community plans to expand its activities. He highlighted the year’s plans centered around health, urging members to conduct regular health checks and participate in upcoming workshops on financial literacy and career training. He also rallied support for the grand New Yam Festival planned for the summer.
The secretary, Mr. Benjamin Chiedozie Dunuson, read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were adopted following corrections, moved by Mr. Noel Ezike and seconded by Mr. Eric Udochukwu.
*Matters Arising*
*Police Workshop:* The chairman reported the success of the previous year’s workshop aimed at fostering better engagement between the police and the African community, reducing biases, and improving practices like stop and search. Future seminars are planned to continue this dialogue.
*Constitutional and Financial Matters:* Discussions arose about amending the constitution to provide more support during weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. There were mixed opinions on the review of monthly dues, with some advocating for a decrease and others suggesting maintaining the current rate.
*Agenda for the New Year:*
The chairman, Antony-Claret, said the new year would be streamlined with different activities such as sports, health, networking and other social engagements.
*Iri Ji, (New Yam) Festival* Chairman Antony-Claret called upon members to actively participate in the planning of the upcoming Iri Ji festival slated for the summer. He highlighted that everyone, including men, women, and children, will don uniforms specifically chosen for the occasion. To facilitate this, a tailor will be available at the next meeting to take measurements for those interested in custom outfits. Additionally, members have the option to work with tailors in Nigeria or any tailor of their choice for their and their family’s attire.
The decision on the festival’s date was made through a vote, settling on a timeframe between the last week of August and the first week of September. The search for an appropriate venue is underway, with Mr. Noel Ezike, Austin Njioke, and Kingsley assigned the task of securing a suitable hall. The event will feature masquerade performances, arranged by our community, and food preparations will also be managed internally with support from members and our women’s group.
Mr. Simon suggested seeking corporate sponsorship and exploring the possibility of registering the Union as a charity to access funding common for such social events within our council. This approach, supported by the MD of Pokowears, aims to reduce costs for the Union and ensure a successful festival.
*Summer Picnic:* A picnic is planned for June 2024 at Hanley Park, with organization starting in March.
*Health and Sports:* The community will host regular health seminars, jogging sessions, and a novelty match in March to promote wellness.
*Professional and Personal Development:* There’s a focus on building networks and exploring opportunities in IT, with the chairman offering to train members in Business Analytics and Cyber-Security. During the meeting, the chairman also emphasized the importance of the values that should be derived from our gatherings. Additionally, we intend to allocate 20 minutes of each meeting for workshops focusing on various essential topics. These include understanding and obtaining mortgages, building credit scores, managing and acquiring credit cards, and seminars related to family matters.
*Diversity and Inclusion:* Efforts will be made to include women more in meetings and explore job opportunities with local councils and other entities. The community’s website and app will also be updated regularly with content.
*Hosting of Meetings:* Members are encouraged to contribute to hosting meetings, with the hosts for the current meeting acknowledged for their efforts. The next meeting’s hosts will be Umeokafor Uzochukwu, Kingsley Ugwuakposim, Noel Ezike, and Udochukwu Eric.
In closing, Ezekiel suggested that the secretary provide a summary of minutes in meetings and share detailed minutes on WhatsApp and the union’s website. Members are encouraged to pay their dues promptly, with potential penalties for late payments, and women are encouraged to register and support the union’s activities.
The meeting adjourned with a motion moved by Mr. Uzochukwu Umeokafor and supported by Dr. Ani, marking the end of a productive session.
Signed:
Benjamin Chiedozie Dunuson
Gen. Sect.
