|
Peoples Club makes waves in the US
•Arlington branch inaugurated in style
Peoples Club of Nigeria, which hardly rings much bell
in Nigeria these days, interestingly, is an elite club
for most Nigerians, especially the Igbos in the United States, as
distinguished personalities from all walks of life jostle to be
member. Our editor ROSE MOSES, just back from the US,
reproduces the glitz and glamour that trailed inauguration of Arlington,
Texas branch of the club recently. Enjoy!
With the pageantry and ovation reminiscent of any high
society event, Peoples Club of Nigeria International, Arlington Texas
branch was launched, chartered and inaugurated in style recently. As a
matter of fact, and in a manner that will forever remain in the memory of
many, Peoples Club, Arlington, Texas, was chartered with a bang!
Indeed, it was the most colorful event ever held in
Dallas/ Fort Worth (DFW) axis of Texas, as dignitaries upon dignitaries
showed for the crowning of the latest branch and the crown jewel of the
elite club for most Nigerians in the United States. And one thing that
never escaped a visiting observer was how a club, with it parent body almost out of existence in Nigeria
happens to be a place where anyone that feels he has arrived in the US,
jostle to belong.
Although the Grand Ball Room of the Marriot Hotel and
Resort, DFW airport south, may have had its share of colorful events over
the years, one may be pardoned to say none may have been as impressive as
the one it witnessed that beautiful day of August 4, 2007.
The event actually kicked off Friday night with a
pre-induction party, where the intended inductees and all the old members
and delegations from all over the world, including Nigeria, partied till
pre-dawn hours. As usual, there was more than enough to eat and drink.
The Nigerian delegation was quite impressive, and
included the leading names of Peoples Club of Nigeria, among them
chairman of the management council, Chief Fabian Onwuachu
better known as Acharaugo Akokwa; HRM, Eze
Desmond Ogugua popularly referred to on the
occasion as Mmiri Na Ezolu Oha. Others
included Chief Joe Ilonze (Ichie
Eze Ugonna of Ojoto), Chief Anene Ike
(Omekaenyi Nnewi),
Chief Sam C. Iwuchukwu (Aka Udo Nnewi) and many
others.
Dignitaries from the US included Chief (Sir) Victor Udorji, (Nwa amuru gba egbe 1), the charismatic Boston branch chairman
and sponsor of Arlington, Texas Branch; Chief Dr. Uche Eze; chairman emeritus of Houston branch, Chief Chris
Uzuwulu; chairman of Galveston branch amongst
others.
The hall was packed and the event, surprisingly
started early - for a Nigerian event. In other words, the phrase ‘African
time’ wasn’t anywhere near the show. This aspect was made even more
interesting considering that most Nigerian progammes
in the US usually start as from midnight even when invitation card may
have read 6:00PM. Which, is why this particular programme easily passes as a record breaker.
It started at about 8.20pm, and from then on, everything worked like clock work.
The MCs, Dr. Ashibuogwu from
Houston and Dr. Charles Maduka of DFW were
obviously on top of their games as they moved the programme
along very efficiently.
The branch was chartered at about 11pm and the new
officers were sworn in. 30 new members from different walks of life were
inducted into the club, and the diversity of the inductees and their
background was quite striking. They included people from the core Igbo
states, but even more remarkable was the fact that several people from
other states like Delta & Kogi shared in
the joy of the night.
The induction was so impressive, so much that the
delegation from Nigeria tagged the branch, the "Jewel" and the
"back bone" of Peoples Club of Nigeria International. Simply,
the night’s event, they said, embodied everything Peoples Club of Nigeria
actually stands for - class, elegance and integrity.
There was plenty of Peoples Club signature
left handshake with three quick upward successive lifts of the
interlocked left index and middle fingers, indicating unity, love and
service - the Peoples Club motto.
On their part, the inductees did not disappoint
either, and their words of appreciation were kicked off by the first
inducted member of Arlington branch, Steve Nezianya
(Aka Ego) from Asaba. In his brief
speech, he reminded that the night event was to him; in fulfillment of
"a family tradition" as his father was the founding chairman of
Asaba branch. His donation of $5005.00 appeared
to have set the threshold for the evening donations. And for sometime, it looked like no one wanted to go below
that mark.
The donations and subsequent ones from each inductee’s
supporters were also very impressive. With three minutes allotted to each
inductee, there was no time for much of the endless boring talk that Saturday
Champion learnt usually permeates events of that nature.
RECORD
SETTING
By inducting 30 new members in its inaugural year,
Arlington branch of Peoples Club of Nigeria International set a record,
as no branch was said to have ever done that. In fact, getting 30 members
is a feat that took other branches several years to accomplish,
organizers somewhat boasted.
And that wasn’t all they would tell to any listening
ear. More money was raised on this night than in any other Peoples Club
event of its kind, they equally revealed as members and supporters gave
generously. The impressive delegation from Nigeria was also a record as
it seemed everyone wanted to see for themselves what makes the Arlington
branch great, and they were not disappointed, leadership of the club
further reminded.
And one could not help but agree that organization of
the event was key to its success. To that regard
all gave credit to the organizing committee chairman, High Chief Sir
Eddie Osuagwu (Osinaigwe
Obowo 1.), who seems to always be at the
fore front of every successful event in the Dallas/Ft.Worth
area.
To the branch chairman, Engr. Emma Okafor
(Ochinanwata 1 of Umuabi),
it was also more grease to his elbows. He was in total control of his
branch and seems to have a vision lacking in most other clubs. He
recognizes that the strength of PCNI- Arlington lies on the diversity of
its membership and not in creating quasi-parochial association, where
people show up with their usual personal hostility and in-fighting. As a
social club, he maintained that you gain more when you have a diverse membership,
instead of the same old faces.
And just as the saying goes that there is nothing as
infectious as success, the buzz around the Dallas Fort Worth area at the
moment is that everyone who is worth anything in the area must belong to
Peoples Club of Nigeria, Arlington Texas branch.
Like both the leadership and members alike would
boast, and actually from the look of things, if the branch maintains its
present posture, there will really be no other social club to compare
with it. To the club, the sky is the limit. ‘It will grow exponentially
in membership as it seems to be very well organized.’
|