The Genesis:
The Ndoki people within the Houston Texas area have had a local Ndoki Association within the region for a very long time. As early as 2000, the leader of the Houston group, Mr. Zylius Imo, proposed having a nationwide association of Ndoki people. After several years of waiting for the publicity secretary of the Houston group to organize a national body of Ndokis, this task was handed over to Mr. Enyinna dennar and Mr. Ihuoma Dike in 2006.
They compiled a database of Ndoki people within the country, informed them about the plan to have a wider based Ndoki Association in North America. This news was welcomed by all Ndoki people.
An inaugural meeting and a nighttime ball was held in Houston, Texas on July 28, 2007. It was well attended. Besides the local Ndokis in Houston, other Ndoki people from several states attended: They include people such as Mr. Michael Ojika from Minneapolis, Mr. & Mrs. Eluwah Ebbis from Atlanta, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ojunta from Atlanta, Dr. Cyprian Ejiasa from Washington D.C., Mrs. Adeline Akparanta from Atlanta, Dr. Chima Ekeke from Atlanta, Ms. Comfort Nnenna Nwankwo from Chicago, Mr. & Mrs. Wesley David from Dallas. Participants at this meeting decided to form a national association and to name it Ndoki Association of North America (NANA), which was the same name as the local Houston group. Also at this meeting an executive committee was elected: Dr. Cyprian Ejiasa, President, Elder Zylius Imo, Vice President, Mr. Enyinna Dennar, General Secretary, Mr. Charles Ojunta, Assistant General Secretary, Dr. Chihurumnanya Nna-Wosu, Financial Secretary, Chief George Nwanguma, Treasurer, Mr. Wesley David, Provost, Dr. Chima Ekeke, Publicity Secretary and Mrs. Adeline Akparanta, Social Secretary.
As the association grew, it was besieged with growing pains and personality clashes. Eventually all activities were put on hold. However, in 2010 Dr. Cyprian Ejiasa convened a meeting in Washington D.C. At this meeting the participants decided that the idea of a national Ndoki association was a great idea. They also wanted to increase our membership. They also decide to change the organizations name. A few names were suggested. Eventually, Ndoki Association of The Americas (NATA) was selected. It was also agreed upon that all the returning executives from NANA would stay on in their current positions. Prof. Daniel Owunwanne was selected as the vice president, Mr. Mike Ojika was selected as the Treasurer, Mrs. Ure Owunwanne as the Financial Secretary and Prof. Chiji Akoma as the publicity secretary.
The above chronicles the conception, the planning and the actualization of an Ndoki Association in the Americas. Presently, Ndoki Association of the Americas, NATA, is still very strong and vibrant thanks to the leadership team and more especially to the general membership who are contributing their time and resources to support our members here in the diaspora and our community in Nigeria.
Enyinna Dennar
Charles Ojunta