- Warm Greetings and Welcome
My dear Elder, Dr. Michael Okogbo, of the esteemed Blue and Green Houses
My capable Vice President, Senior Blessing Oki, of the vibrant Yellow House
My astute Ambassador, Senior George Majemite, of the distinguished Blue House
My ever-efficient Secretary, CDR Joseph Osazuwa, of the spirited Red House
My ever-reliable Chancellor of the Exchequer, Brother Paulo Ajobo, of the verdant Green House
Distinguished members of the Notre Dame College Ozoro Alumni Association of the Americas (NODACOAM),
My dear fellow alums, a very warm and heartfelt good afternoon.
Seeing you all gathered here today for our 2024 End-of-Year Meeting fills my heart with joy. As we reflect on the year that’s coming to a close, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to connect with you all. Let’s give ourselves a round of applause for making it this far!
As you may recall from our last AGM in October, I spoke about the journey of NODACOAM and the significant strides we’ve made. Your presence here today is a testament to the unwavering spirit of NODACOAMITES. Thank you for your unwavering support.
- Celebrating Our Achievements
Together, with the support of my exceptional EXCO, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones this year. Let’s take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments:
Community Support: We’ve contributed generously to the NODACO National body, supporting the construction of the cottage hostel. Even with a smaller membership base, NODACOAM remains the largest contributor to this noble cause. Our 2024 contributions totaled a significant $3843.86 (approximately 6.2 million at the current Naira rate).
Member Support (NODACOAM Cares!): We’ve stood by our fellow NODACOAM members during challenging times, offering condolences to those who lost loved ones, including Leventis Erueh, Blessing Oki, and George Majemite.
Membership Growth: Our membership recruitment drive, led by our dynamic Ambassador, Senior George Majemite, has successfully increased our membership to 19. We’ve also engaged 8-12 members actively in our regular bi-monthly meetings.
New Initiative: My EXCO and I are proud to present to this association our first annual budget detailing our revenues and expenditures for next year, 2025. It includes budget lines for cottage hostel support, partial front loading of the cost of AGM potentially in 2026, and initiative to do fundraising. I will let the treasurer present to you the detailed NODACOAM 2025 budget.
- Addressing Challenges Together
While we’ve made significant progress, we also face challenges that require our collective attention:
Membership Growth: We aim to increase our membership to 30-35 active members.
Global Reach: We need to develop a strategy to attract Alums in Canada and other countries in the Americas to join and actively participate in NODACOAM. I propose appointing Senior George Majemite to lead this initiative and establish a NODACOAM Ambassador in Canada.
Despite these challenges, our unwavering spirit, nurtured at NDC, has enabled us to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
- A Heartfelt Thank You
I express my sincere gratitude for your dedication, support, and perseverance. Your continued support and prayers are invaluable as we strive to build the NODACOAM of our dreams.
On behalf of the EXCO, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
From the depths of my heart, thank you.
God bless NDC Ozoro, God bless Nigeria, God bless America, and God bless every one of you, my dear fellow alums.
Up NDC, No Rival!
Prof. David O. Ogbe
President, NODACOAM, 2022-present