MAIDEN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (MAGM) 2006
The Kwandala Foundation has successfully hosted its MAIDEN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (MAGM) at Catering Conference Hall of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano on 1st April 2006. This event, the first in the history of this humanitarian non-governmental organization commenced by 11.15 a.m. with the arrival of several invited guests, members of the press and well wishers from the general public.
The MAGM started with an opening prayer, after which the Foundation’s Public Relation Officer Salihu Tanko Yakasai welcome all to the occasion and went on to outline the agenda. He then proceeded to introduce and invite distinguished members to the high table from among the audience which include Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama, member Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Dr. AbdulHamid Isa Dutse Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Kano and a senior member of the NGO. Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Managing Director Fairview Aviation Consultants Kano, Arc Bashir H. Adamu a Senior Government official in Jigawa State. Engr K. Wintola of Musa T. Waziri & Partners Kano, Nasir Mansur Muhammad Manager MTN Friendship Center Kano, Dr. Ali Tahir Wamban Fika (Represented), The Director Al-Muntada Al-Islami, Kano office. The Manager Fidelity Bank Kano Branch. Ibrahim Ubale Ajingi General Manager SWS.Comms Kano, Barrister Sa’idu Muhammad, Alhaji Abba Tanko Yakasai and Nura Kakira of BON Hqtrs, Kano among others important dignitaries.
The occasion witnessed all the activities scheduled for the maiden AGM among which is the Swearing-in of Foundation’s Maiden Executive Council Members. The Oath of Office ceremony was performed by Barr. Sa’id Muhammad of Sa’id Muhammad & Co, who swore in the founder and first President of The K. Foundation in the person of Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa. Next the rest of the Executive Council members were also sworn in the person of Abdulrahman Baffa Yola as Vice President I: Maryam Dalhatu Vice-President II, Inyene James Ibanga Secretary- General, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama Assistant Sec-General, Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa Financial Secretary, Safiyya Abba Abubakar Treasurer, Kassim Usman Bichi Welfare Secretary Nuhu S. I. Umar Social Secretary, Salihu Tanko Yakasai Public Relation Officer and Shitu Abdulkadir as Provost Marshal
The newly sworn-in President delivered his welcome address, in which he briefly traced the history that led to forming the NGO on the February 3rd 2005. He listed out the various project executed by the organization some of which are
1. Kwandala4Tsunami – maiden project launched in February 2005 for victims of South East Asian Tsunami;
2. Kwandala4RuqayyaIbrahim – March 2005; a kidney transplant patient that needed N2.5 Million and a donor, both of which the foundation succeeded in getting but unfortunately the 22 year old young woman died before the trip to Egypt for the surgery;
3. Kwandala4NigerFoodCrisis - July 2005; A challenging project that saw the Foundation soliciting for and receiving relief materials, financial and medical aids from individuals and organizations, then traveling to Zarmou, a village in Zindar State of Niger to deliver the items in October, 2005 and its then latest project
4. Kwandala4PSComputers - February 2006; Current project in which The Foundation is sourcing for 250 computers for distribution to primary schools in Kano State, Nigeria in order to raise awareness for computer literacy and internet potential among less privilege pupils.
Next on the agenda was launching the Foundations’ Constitution and the oldest member of the Foundation Engr. K. Wintola was called upon to declare effective, which he promptly did. This was followed closely by the launch of The Kwandala Foundation Newsletter, Website and E-Mail by Alhaji Abba Tanko Yakasai, another senior member of the organization.
The Chairman of the occasion Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama delivered a lecture titled “Role Of Non-Governmental Organizations In The Nation Building” in which he called on NGOs to rise up to the occasion of not only bothering about things that affect them directly but also remotely such as things that affect the people, sighting the ill-conceived case of the partial broadcast suspension of Freedom Radio by Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. This in his opinion not only violates the democratic ideals by denying people of their freedom of speech but is also tantamount to sabotaging the macro-economy of Kano in particular and the country in general. So NGOs must voice out their dissatisfaction with the development.
Awards were given to distinguished personalities and corporate organizations that have identified with The Kwandala Foundation, contributed and demonstrated full support to its projects in the outgoing year 2005-2006. Among the recipients are:
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano for the support and assistance it gives to each medical case of the Foundation brought to their hospital. The Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Kano Dr. AbdulHamid Isa Dutse also received an award for his unrelenting support and contribution towards the success of the various projects of the Foundation since its inception.
Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Association AKTH, Kano Chapter also received one for their contribution of the mini bus used to travel to Niger Republic during Project “Kwandala4 NigerFoodCrisis”.
Another individual that distinguished herself is the Console General of Niger Republic Hajia Fati Umar, who left no stone unturned to ensure the Food Aid delivered by the Foundation reached her people in Niger against all odds.
An award was also given to Freedom Radio for partnering with the Foundation in all its projects by giving its airwaves for each and every campaign of the Foundation free of charge, which essentially is crucial to the success registered by the NGO in its short life span.
Alhaji Umar Muhammad Dutse (Late), General Manager of Freedom Radio was given one of the awards for his role both as a Board of Trustee member and as a staunch supporter of the ideals of the Foundation since its creation
Alhaji Bala Ibrahim (Late) Managing Director of Fairview Aviation Consultants, Kano who gave the Foundation its Secretariat at No. 14c Zaria Road for a minimum of 2 years free of charge to demonstrate his commitment to the aim of the founders of the organization.
Nigerian Television Authority, Kano for its support to the Foundation by giving it full coverage every time there was an invitation from the NGO.
British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service received an award for its coverage both within and outside the country of the K. Foundation activities in the outgoing year.
Other award recipients include Trust Media (Publisher of Daily and Weekend Trust) was foremost in its support for the Foundation’s efforts through the year and so got an award of appreciation.
Muhammad Garba Fagge, Permanent Secretary to the state Governor also bagged an award for his role in the Niger Food Crisis Project.
The independent multi-media production company SoundWord & Sight Communications Nigeria Limited the publishers of The Kwandala Foundation Newsletter as well as producers/presenters of FreedomSoundz and SWS.Comms Symphonyk Vibes on radio which were used to call people to donate generously to the Foundation’s various projects were also rewarded for their intellectual as well as broadcasting contributions.
Merit Internet Café located along BUK Road Kano also won an award for offering its office as a collection center each time the Foundation launches a project.
An award was also given to the Highest Donor to the K. Foundation’s collective projects for the year Al-Muntada Al-Islami Foundation, Kano Office.
The Manager MTN Friendship Center Malam Nasiru Mansur Muhammad was called upon to launch the Foundation Sticker. He, in turn declared his total agreement with the Chairman’s lecture after which he launched the sticker and hope that it would go along way in reminding all to give maximum support to the Foundation activities.
Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa President of the NGO introduced the next project of the humanitarian organization which is “Kwandala4PrimarySchoolComputers”. He explained the project thus; Computer education is becoming increasingly important to all aspect of life from the official to the non-official. As such it is crucial that everybody becomes computer literate in the nearest future. But due to the expensive nature of computers they are not easily accessible to the poor masses of the country and so might be easily available to their children. One way to make this development possible is to call on government to provide computers in public schools. But as we all know this might prove to be a Herculean task if not impossible. Rather than just call, the Foundation in its usual manner of not just talking but taking a definite action decided to source for 250 computers from the public and private sector and eventually distributing these sets to public primary schools in a fair and transparent manner that will involve the participation of the media and other stakeholders. Consequently the Project “Kwandala4PrimarySchoolComputers” was conceived.
To formally launch the project, 3 sets of Desk Top Computers sourced from members of the Foundation were donated to beneficiaries. Gwagwarwa Special Primary School, Kano situated along Airport Road was given a brand new computer set in fulfillment of the pledge made by the Foundation President during its Golden Jubilee Anniversary held at its school premises in December 2005. Another set donated Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Assistant Secretary General of the Foundation was given to an Al-Islamiyya Primary School, Kano and the 3rd set donated by Barrister Fatima Ojo of Fatima Ojo & Co. was to be retained by the Foundation at its Secretariat for its official use pending when it would possess a brand new set. Engr. K. Wintola was summoned to formally hand out the computers thus launching the project. So any willing person who wants to donate can do so from the usual minimum which is 1 Kwandala (N1.00) to a full computer set/s.
Dr. Ali Tahir Wamban Fika, one of the recipients of the awards has already kick started the inflow of donations by donating a complete computer set. Nura Kakira of Bank of the North also offered the sum of N5,000.00 as his contribution. An 8 year old young boy Muhammad Qalb-Salim Muhammad also donated a N5.00 note instantly. Several other invitees and personalities express their belief in the laudable project but asked for room to assess the project properly first before making a commitment.
Finally the newly sworn-in K. Foundation Vice President I AbdulRahman Baffa Yola gave the vote of thanks on behalf of all members to all those who were able to attend and those who were not able to due to one reason or another but whose spirit was at the MAGM 2006, before the last item on the agenda that is the closing prayer was conducted, bringing the Maiden Annual General Meeting of The Kwandala Foundation to an end. A photo session followed outside the hall.
No comments:
Post a Comment