Welcome to Kaduna State Branch!

 

Marusia IDAKWO           President
Gyorgyi EJIOFOH           Secretary
Dorine ONYEDIKA          Treasurer/Financial Secretary
Josephine MOHAMMED  Imm. Past President

 

As of 31st December 2021, Kaduna has 18 members though attendance at meetings rarely exceeded 10-12 members.  Social meetings always attracted better attendance with the 2021 New Year’s lunch being held at Josephine’s house and the August get-together at Carmen’s house.

 

General meetings held approximately every six weeks were held at various members’ homes but attendance was often affected by security challenges in different parts of the town.  The tendency here in Kaduna is to avoid congested areas and to ensure reaching home by 6 pm. A number of us look back with nostalgia on years back when Friday and Saturday evening outings were always much enjoyed!

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PROJECT SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Kaduna Branch has been especially appreciative of the regular quarterly reports from our National project, the NWBBPC, under the stewardship of Edwige Adeyemo and the Assistant Coordinator, Emem, whose training skills were clearly seen during the successful Cape of Good Soap project. Kudos to both of them and to the rest of the Centre’s team for their effort throughout the year.

Although unable once again to organize any public fundraising events partly due to ongoing security issues as well as the general absence of compliance with Covid-19 protocols, from other small in-house fundraising efforts at each meeting through Bring & Buy Sales, small cash donations from members and the sales of note cards sponsored by Dorothy Ajijola, the branch was eventually able to send N100,000 to the NWBBPC.

In addition, N50,000 in the form of cleaning materials was given to the Kaduna State Special Education School (KASSES) to support the efforts made by two of our members, Carmen and Josephine, through their respective school outreach programs to undertake repairs and maintenance of various plumbing, water supply and electrical works on the school hostels.  The new principal of KASSES, Mr Bako Tanko Jocks greatly appreciated our efforts. We look forward to receiving the brailed primary 1-6 science textbooks from the NWBBPC as soon as they are available.

 

COURTESY VISIT TO NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION HEADQUARTERS, KADUNA STATE 
Following our National President’s request for an update on immigration challenges in each branch, three members (Josephine, Gyorgyi and Marusia) visited the recently appointed State Comptroller in late July and followed it up with a letter requesting clarification of a 2006 directive (permitting naturalized Nigerwives to renew their Nigerian passport at their State Command Office) which appeared to have been ignored.

We were pleasantly surprised when the State Comptroller’s response confirmed the directive was still in force and unencouraged those of us with Nigerian passports to apply for renewal with the State Command.  Hopefully, a similar response will apply in other states!

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PERSONAL EVENTS
The following members celebrated new additions to their families:
• Shalini Dauda welcomed 2 new granddaughters (Ruksana on 1st February and Aisha on 18th March 2021).
• Carmen Otigba’s first great-granddaughter (Vilda was borne on 6th September 2021)
• Dorine Onyedika granddaughter Nyah was born on 9th June 2021

WEDDING    
Marie Ladan’s daughter Elsie was married to Engr. Raymond Odele in Texas USA on 24th September 2021.

 

CENTENARY BIRTHDAY
Josephine’s mother, Violet Lily Bellisario, celebrated her 100th birthday in Kaduna on 1st July 2021 and duly received her centenary birthday card from HM Queen Elisabeth!
 

BEREAVEMENTS
• Our member Larissa Isa lost her daughter (Fatima) together with her unborn baby in April, and her husband, Engr. Mohammed Inuwa Isa also died on 29th June 2021. 
• Alhaji Sani Ibrahim, the husband of our late longtime member, Resi Ibrahim who died in January 2020, followed her on 24th September 2021.
• Our member Diane Ede and former member Natalie Deganga (now in the US) both lost their fathers in December 2021
May God grant all those who passed on in 2021 eternal rest and comfort the families who mourn them.