A few words
About Us
History
The Journey so far from 2015 - 2024
Introduction
Nekede Empowerment And Development Association (NEDA), as it came to be known today metamorphosed after series of constructive tinkering and unofficial consultations between the convener, Eng. Sir Osondu Opara and some of the pioneer members of the association. NEDA is a non-political, non-religious, non-socio-cultural organization. It is purely a development oriented and
youth empowerment organization for Nekede.
The logo of NEDA depicts of THREE hands holding a disc like frame, meaning the three Nekede Autonomous Communities’ holding Nekede land.
NEDA SLOGAN goes thus, Speaker: NEDA! Chorus: PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT!. Speaker: PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT! Chorus: NEDA!
NEDA MOTTO is PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. The Constitution of NEDA remains the guiding force of all NEDA activities.
Mission
To empower the people of Nekede, especially the youths, by fostering unity, enhancing community developmen, and providing a platform for their voices to be heard.
Vision
To build a united and thriving Nekede community, both home and abroad, where every member is empowered and actively contributes to the development and growth of the society.
The Very Beginning
The untiring efforts and push of the convener, Engr. Sir Osondu Opara led to the first official meeting of the group under the auspices and use of the name, ALUM VOICE, held in Links Hotels Ltd Owerri in the month of December,2015. In that meeting the convener told the pioneer members the need of “building a better community”,hence he cocluded that “Umualum needs a voice”. Most people would raise their eye brow, why Umualum? This was because the early stage of the association was mostly centered on Umualum. However, this outlook came to change when majority of the pioneer members at a meeting voted for an all encompassing association that would be pan- Nekede, covering the three autonomous communities of greater Nekede.
The above significant decision at that meeting necessitated the need for a change of name for the association. It was pointed out by the convener that “a community with an objective and constructive voice achieves whatever it believes in and experiences rapid growth”, whereas , “a community without a voice is a dead zone, stagnation remains her reward”. A rhetoric question came on “do we need a voice now or in the future?” All NEDA members were in agreement that a voice is needed now, hence the need to engage community leaders to market this vision if we are committed and believe in this task to bring development to all parts of Nekede. The association was renamed Nekede Development Forum (NDF) and later to Nekede Forum (NF),in February,2016.
Monthly Meetings of the association from 2015 to the third quarter of 2016 were sponsored and held in Links hotels Owerri by the convener, Engr sir Osondu Opara. It was from the last quarter of 2016 that the venue of the association physical meeting was moved to Engr. Sir Osondu Opara’s residence at No.4 Amato road Umuejechi Nekede, which still serves as the association’s temporary secretariat till date. NEDA had her formal inauguration at the last quarter of 2018.
Achievements
Within four years of coming into being and prior to our inauguration, the association recorded a handful of notable achievements namely: Drafting of the association constitution in Jan, 2016, which was amended in May, 2016 to reflect change of name; Appointment of interim executives in Feb, 2016; Constituting of tentative Board of Trustees between Feb. to March, 2016; Official registration and approval by Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) precisely on the 11 th of May, 2016, with the current name Nekede Empowerment and Development Association (NEDA) scaling through, this was ratified on 26 th Aug, 2016; Opening of an official Bank account in Aug, 2016; Clearing of the refuse dump at Afor-ama market square in March, 2017; Booking appointment and meeting with the three Eze’s in council of the autonomous communities in Nekede in the first quarter of 2017; Reaching out and engaging some non-governmental organizations in a kind of Memorandum of understanding (MOU), on youth empowerment and development in a partnership/sponsorship program, like Positive Wheels Nig. Ltd in 2017; reaching out to Nekede sons and daughters Home and Abroad on the need to key into the vision and mission, which is yielding positive response; Reaching out to past community youth leaders on sensitization and counseling concerning youth activities; The Association in the past had booked appointment with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to help out on our community bad roads, but due to policy inconsistency of the Federal government the positive outcome of that NDDC visit has been kept on hold; The search for the association’s permanent secretariat is still on; NEDA organized a one-day seminar on the 25th of September, 2021, where a proposal contained in a seminar paper was presented on some aspect of NEDA Empowerment program, which was tagged “the YESS Project”. The Youth Empowerment Strategies and Solution (YESS) Project; NEDA – NAKWA Afor-Ama Project was executed between July – August, 2021, which involved electricity connection (EEDC) to the NAKWA building at Afor-Ama Market in Umualum, construction of a security house at the gate and its roofing, installation of one horse power summo and its accessories, repair of three male and three female conveniences in the building, and painting of the whole NAKWA building; NEDA Light Up Umualum Project was planned and executed successfully from August 1, 2022 to November 1, 2022, which provided solar powered street lights covering the whole of Umualum Nekede and a spot at Umuikea Umuoma Nekede; A two-day maiden NEDA Health Care Outreach was held on September 6 & 7, 2024 at Claretian University Nekede, where free health care program was conducted to aid the needy; The maiden NEDA Scholarship program of 2025 WAEC Sponsorship for six (6) indigent students of Umualum origin, who will participate in the 2025 WAEC Examination is ongoing; The NEDA committee on Road Rehabilitation Project is also carrying on their feasibility study on bad spots of the Nekede-Owerri road for possible action at the appropriate time.
Introduction
Nekede Empowerment And Development Association (NEDA), as it came to be known today metamorphosed after series of constructive tinkering and unofficial consultations between the convener, Eng. Sir Osondu Opara and some of the pioneer members of the association. NEDA is a non-political, non-religious, non-socio-cultural organization. It is purely a development oriented and
youth empowerment organization for Nekede.
The logo of NEDA depicts of THREE hands holding a disc like frame, meaning the three Nekede Autonomous Communities’ holding Nekede land.
NEDA SLOGAN goes thus, Speaker: NEDA! Chorus: PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT!. Speaker: PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT! Chorus: NEDA!
NEDA MOTTO is PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. The Constitution of NEDA remains the guiding force of all NEDA activities.
OBJECTIVES
- To promote mechanism for sustainable development in Nekede being the voice for nde Nekede.
- To draw the attention of the state government on the developmental needs of our community being a major stakeholder of the New Owerri Capital Territory.
- To foster togetherness and social cohesion amongst Nekede indigenes (Home and Abroad) for mutual benefit.
- To support sustainable development of Nekede youths through education, capacity building, employment opportunity and self-actualization to enable them contribute towards community development.
- To build capacity among community leaders so as to enable them contribute meaningfully to the progress of the community
CHALLENGES IN FOCUS
NEDA challenges are focused on: Nekede has no functional Town unions. Community youth movement and other social-cultural groups are not well coordinated and directed to carry out objective functions. There is big communication gap between Home and Abroad community members. Incessant Electricity and transformer problems. Poor internal road network and flooding Personal gains are made priority over common interest in the area of community development. Issues of cultism and youth associated crimes abound instead of promoting and pursuing good education among majority of the youths. No voice for Nekede as great people and community within the government circle.
THE PROSPECTS
The above mentioned aims and challenges informed the coming together of NEDA members as a non political, non religious, non socio-cultural group to tackle these with the cooperation of all well meaning Nekedians, God being our helper. In addition, the association also intends to get list of all establishments, private/public/government in Nekede lands, for a proper discussion with them towards their social corporate responsibilities on their host community – Nekede. With the cooperation of all, NEDA is for THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NDE NEKEDE in particular and Imo State in general.