MEDICINE DONATION:

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History was made on May 28, 2016, when the BNC donated Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicines to the clinic in Gboloko, headquarters of the Bassa Nge Kingdom at a special event that was well publicized in advance. Over 200 Bassa Nges attended and directly benefited from this event. This event was made possible through the generous donations of members of BNC, who believed strongly that they should give back to the land of their birth. Prior to this momentous event, the BNC members of the Medicines Donation Task Force (Mr. Ezekiel Tsado, Mr. Gambo Afubu and Mrs. Roseline Ekuta) had obtained the permission and blessings of the Etsu Bassa Nge, His Royal Highness, Alh. (Brig. General) Abu Ali Mopah III (Rtd.) "Bagadozhi". Other eminent leaders who were contacted prior to this event included the Imam of Gboloko and the Pastor-in-Charge of the Anglican Communion in Gboloko, both of whom helped to disseminate relevant information regarding the donation to their members. Mrs. Victoria Ajoka, Head Nurse at the clinic in Gboloko, received the donated medicines on behalf of all the patients who needed them. On the date of this event, each patient received a physical examination prior to any medicine being dispensed. This donation would be the first of many more charitable activities to follow. Some pictures from this event are provided here.

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2017 BNC BI-ANNUAL CONVENTION:

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On May 26-28, 2017, BNC held the 2017 Annual Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, to discuss the Community’s progress to date and strategic vision for the future. About 54 members and guests attended this convention.

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2021 INSTALLATION OF BOREHOLES IN FOUR VILLAGES IN BASSA NGE LAND:

During the first half of 2021, the BNC embarked on an ambitious goal of installing boreholes in four villages in Bassa Nge land: Gboloko, Emi-Eronu, Emi-Tsado and Kpata. This project was successfully completed and commissioned on May 1, 2021. The Commissioning Event, which took place at Gboloko, the traditional headquarter of the Bassa Nge people, was attended by representatives from each of the four villages and representatives of the Etsu Bassa Nge, Chairman of Bassa Local Government, other traditional rulers and eminent Bassa Nge people. The members of the BNC in North America joined this important event virtually via Zoom.

 

The address of the Chairperson of BNC, delivered on behalf of the BNS are reproduced below.

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ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRPERSON, BNC DURING BOREHOLE COMMISSIONING ON MAY 01, 2021:

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Commissioning of Four Boreholes:

Landmark Clean Water for Bassa Nge Land Project

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Gboloko, Kogi State, Nigeria

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May 1, 2021

 

AGENDA:

1. Introduction of the Guest

2. Opening Prayers

3. Chairman’s Welcome Address / Speech (BNC)

4. Blessing from HRH Etsu Bassa Nge

5. Commissioning of Boreholes by HRH

6. Vote of Thanks by LGA Chairman

7. Refreshment

8. Group Photograph

9. Closing Prayers

 

INTRODUCTION:

• The Etsu Bassa Nge, His Royal Highness, Alh. (Brig. General) Abu Ali Mopah III (Rtd.) "Bagadozhi" and his entourage

• Chairman, Bassa Local Government and his entourage

• The Aletswo of Gboloko

• The Emi-Tsuwos of Emi-Eronu, Kpata and Emi-Tsado

• All Delegates from the three satellite villages who travelled to Gboloko

• All other eminent guests and everyone who is in attendance at this special event today

• Ladies and Gentlemen.

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I would like to begin by thanking the Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, for making this special day a reality. Today, we gather to commission four boreholes in Bassa Nge land, one each in Emi-Eronu, Emi-Tsado, Gboloko and Kpata, made possible by the Bassa Nge Community North America. I am honored and privileged to lead the BNC as its current chairperson.

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Before I tell you more about the BNC, let me introduce myself to you: My name is Jethro Ekuta. I was born in Emi-Eronu, Bassa Local Government of Kogi State, Nigeria. I attended primary school at Emi-Eronu; secondary school at Government Secondary School, Dekina; Advanced Level and College at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I completed my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Iseyin, Oyo State; taught briefly at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and worked briefly at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, while Professor Charles Wambebe was the Director before moving to the United States of America to pursue advanced studies. It was through Professor Wambebe I came to America.

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Let me now tell you about the Bassa Nge Community North America (BNC).

 

WHO WE ARE:

Bassa Nge Community North America (BNC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization comprising of the people who originate from the Bassa Nge tribal group and whose primary residence is in North America, specifically, the United States of America and Canada. BNC is also open to all persons who share and are committed to advancing our vision and mission, regardless of their creed, color, place of origin or residence on planet earth.

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Our mission:

BNC works to promote healthy living among the people of Bassa Nge land through access to essential medicines to prevent and treat diseases and digging of bore holes or wells to provide access to clean water. 

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Our vision:

We seek to alleviate suffering in Bassa Nge land through focus on disease prevention and treatment, thereby advancing wellness and longevity.

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Our Focus

We put the people who live in Bassa Nge land at the center of our vision and mission because they labored to give us a good educational foundation that has helped to make us the successful people we have become and we have a responsibility to give back to a community still in dire need of our support. 

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OUR STRATEGIC PLAN:

There are over 100 villages in Bassa Nge land, Kogi State, Nigeria.

 

• The ultimate goal of the BNC is to provide access to clean water to ALL of the villages in Bassa Nge land within one mile of each village or town. This would help to alleviate the perennial suffering of the Bassa Nge people who currently lack access to clean water in the land and help prevent water-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, worm infestations, etc.

• In addition, this would help people lead healthier and longer lives. Furthermore, while access to clean water would help prevent diseases, the supply of essential medicines would help to provide much needed medications for the prevention and treatment of common diseases that afflict the people of Bassa Nge land.

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You can learn more about BNC by visiting our website: www.bassangecommunityna.org and visiting our Facebook page under the same name.

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HISTORY OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS BY THE BNC:

History was made on May 28, 2016, when the BNC donated Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicines to the clinic in Gboloko, headquarters of the Bassa Nge Kingdom at a special event that was well publicized in advance. Over 200 Bassa Nges attended and directly benefited from this event. This event was made possible through the generous donations of members of BNC, who believed strongly that they should give back to the land of their birth. Prior to this momentous event, the BNC members of the Medicines Donation Task Force (Mr. Ezekiel Tsado, Mr. Gambo Afubu and Mrs. Roseline Ekuta) had obtained the permission and blessings of the Etsu Bassa Nge, His Royal Highness, Alh. (Brig. General) Abu Ali Mopah III (Rtd.) "Bagadozhi". Other eminent leaders who were contacted prior to this event included the Imam of Gboloko and the Pastor-in-Charge of the Anglican Communion in Gboloko, both of whom helped to disseminate relevant information regarding the donation to their members. Mrs. Victoria Ajoka, Head Nurse at the clinic in Gboloko, received the donated medicines on behalf of all the patients who needed them. On the date of this event, each patient received a physical examination prior to any medicine being dispensed. This donation would be the first of many more charitable activities to follow. Some pictures from this event are provided here.

​

On May 26-28, 2017, BNC held the 2017 Bi-Annual Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, to discuss the Community’s progress to date and strategic vision for the future. At this Convention, we cemented our resolve to focus on improving healthcare for Bassa Nge people in Bassa Nge land through access to essential medicines for the prevention and treatment of common diseases that affect the Bassa Nge people, and access to clean drinking water through digging of boreholes and wells in Bassa Nge land. This Convention was hosted by Dr. Jethro and Dr. Roseline Ekuta. About 54 members and guests attended this convention.

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On May 24-26, 2019, the BNC again held its 2019 Bi-Annual Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, hosted by Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Celina Augustine. About 48 members and guests attended this convention. Mr. Uriah Mamudu, the faithful Contractor of our landmark “Clean Water for Bassa Nge Land Project,” was in attendance at this Convention and shared his expertise in managing this type of project. There, BNC members re-committed themselves to the cause of digging boreholes in Bassa Nge Land.

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Under normal circumstances, the next Bi-Annual Convention would have been held this month in North Carolina. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BNC will not hold a Convention this year. Rather, the Convention will be held next year.

Today’s event is the culmination of an ambitious plan to improve the health of all Bassa Nge people. The four boreholes, one each in Emi-Eronu, Emi-Tsado, Gboloko and Kpata, are only a first step towards the lofty goal of making clean water available to all Bassa Nge people living in Bassa Nge land within one mile of each village or town. We wish to call on all levels of government in Nigeria – local, state and federal – to come to the aid of the Bassa Nge people by extending this gesture throughout the entire land. We would like to call on all Bassa Nge people all over the world to come home and contribute their quota towards the development of Bassa Nge land.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

They say you cannot lift a luggage onto your head with a single arm.

• The Etsu Bassa Nge, His Royal Highness, Alh. (Brig. General) Abu Ali Mopah III (Rtd.) "Bagadozhi" for supporting the BNC in carrying out this mission in Bassa Nge Land. We also wish to thank his entourage.

• The Aletswo of Gboloko and Emi-Tsuwos of Emi-Eronu, Kpata and Emi-Tsado – who welcomed the contractors to their villages.

• Delegates from the three satellite villages who travelled to Gboloko.

• Chairman, Bassa Local Government and his entourage for accepting our invitation to attend today’s event.

• Our Able and Faithful Contractor, Mr. Uriah Mamudu and all the people who worked with him.

• Executive Committee BNC.

• Planning Committee:

  • Mrs. Grace Ndoma-Egun, our Fundraising Chairperson and co-lead of the planning committee;

  • Mr. Gambo Afubu, our Organizing & Publicity Secretary and co-lead of the planning committee;

  • Mr. Uriah Mamudu, our Borehole Contractor and local coordinator of all logistics;

  • Anlele Channel Director, Mr. Abdulrazak Mopa Zuberu, who advertised today’s event on a broad scale;

  • Mr. Tope, who designed the banners and is providing all audiovisual and IT services

• Members of BNC Executive Committee

  • Vice Chairperson: Mr. Gilbert Tunde Abraham

  • Secretary: Mr. Nda Abraham Abaniwo

  • Financial Secretary: Mrs. Chichi Wambebe-Larsen

  • Treasurer: Mrs. Celina Augustine

  • Organizing & Publicity Secretary: Mr. Gambo Afubu (

  • Fundraising Chairperson: Mrs. Grace Ndoma Egun

• All members of the BNC for their support

• I would also like to thank all the people who contributed towards helping me to become the person I am today:

  • My late parents, step mother, elder brother

  • My immediate family, esp. my wife, Dr. Roseline Ekuta for her support, which enabled me to carry out my responsibilities as Chairperson, as well as our five children.

  • My teachers over the years

  • My Guardian, Professor Charles Wambebe who paved the way that allowed me to sojourn to the United States of America.

  • Above All, the Lord God Almighty who has been merciful and gracious to me and from whom all blessings flow.