It was a carnival like atmosphere at Marriott, Houston West Chase, as sons and daughters of Ika Kingdom residing in the United States of America gathered under the aegis of Ika National Association, USA to celebrate her 2018 biannual convention tagged ‘Health Care in Ika land’.
The Ika National Association convention which has been described as Ika Christmas in the United State took place on the 25th to 27th of May 2018 at Houston Texas, USA.
Giving his welcome address at the Ika National Association gala night/fund raiser for equipping the diagnostic center built by the association at Central Hospital, Agbor, the outgoing President of the Ika National Association , Mr. Kingsley Agboje expressed his delight at the gathering of Ika sons and daughters, stating that they have worked assiduously with the sole aim of uplifting the economic, educational, and social welfare of Ika Community, home and abroad.
According to him, “in the course of my presidency, this association has been driven by the unshakable belief that we make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give. In the light of this therefore, and since his inception, this association (both at the national and local level ) has contributed immensely towards achieving the aforementioned goals by donating medical supplies and benches to Agbor General Hospital, building boreholes in several Ika Villages, providing school supplies to elementary school students, and organizing health missions amongst others.
He disclosed that the diagnostic center which was commissioned on the 24th of April 2018 and handed over to the General Hospital for use will require equipment like X-ray machines, CT Scanners, and an Ultra Sound machines to function at full capacity hence the need for the fund raising.
Also speaking at the convention’s gala night which saw a new set of executive of the association sworn in, the chairman of the occasion, and the chief launcher, Dr. Chris Obaze, made a passionate appeal to Ika sons and daughters to support in equipping the diagnostic center to a standard level to ensure the well being of Ika People and those living within Ika axis.
He opined that the people should take the approach of what they can do for the government rather than what the government can do for them. He therefore appealed for the co-operation of everyone to equip the center to an enviable standard.
Kicking the ball rolling as the Chief Launcher, he led others present in donating handsomely towards achieving their goal.
Earlier during the morning/afternoon session of the convention, presentations were made by notable sons and daughters of Ika Lands such as: Dr. Priscilla Opkuzor, Mr. Daniel Usifoh, Head, collective leadership of Onu-Ika, Dr. Philomena Ogwude-Ogoh, a Professor of I.T, Mr. Roland Egede, pioneer President of Ika Elites, Mr. Smart Ajaja, amongst others.
High points of the convention were the cultural dance presentation by women and children of Ika extraction; swearing in of the newly elected executives, declaration of interest to run for presidency of Nigeria by Dr. Mrs. Helen Young Solomon amongst other side attractions.