Reunion Luncheon

REPORT OF UNIFEMGA, LAGOS CHAPTER PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL REUNION OF UNIFEMGA TO HOLD AT OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE BETWEEN 22-24th MAY, 2009

All praise is due to Allah (The Owner of the Universe). It is by His Mercies that we are Muslims and it is our prayer that we should not die except as Muslims, Amin.

The core values of UNIFEMGA which drive the vision and mission of our great Association remains the flagship that pilot our programme of activities.

Having spent 17 calendar months out of the 24 months of the present executive, our chapter drew the following programmes for the 2 year tenure:

1. Ileya Picnic: This took place in February 10, 2009 at Cool Breeze Resort at Alpha Beach, Lekki, Lagos State. This programme was used to welcome our members who participated in 2007 Hajj as well as entertain our members, non-members and their families. Due to popular demand, the Ileya Picnic is now known as Family Picnic.

The 2009 Family Picnic was held at FUNTOPIA where members received value for their money compared to our former venue, Alpha Beach.

2. 1 day retreat for the young: This programme is targeted at newly graduated members of the Association with a view to train them to enable them perform better at their different place of work and/or to succeed in their various business callings.
It comes up once in a year and the year 2008 edition as held as detailed below:

Venue: UAC Training Centre, Apapa, Lagos.
Date: June 15, 2008
Fee: A token

The 2009 edition of the 1-day retreat programme was scheduled to take place on April 26, 2009, but due to unforeseen circumstances on the part of the Capacity Building Committee, the committee will advice members on a new date very soon.

3. Prayer Meetings: We scheduled 4 prayer meetings for the year 2008 but unfortunately, we were able to meet thrice. At the prayer meetings, we use to supplicate to Allah and thereafter hold our general meeting. The 3 prayer meetings were hosted as follows:

Date	Host	Venue	Time
March 30, 2008	Alhaji & Alhaja A. Popoola House	39, Atlantic Beach Estate, Off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.	10 a.m.
May 11, 2008	Alhaji & Hajia Abdul-Waheed	Odeyimka 17, Kolawole Shonibare Close, Off Coker Road, Ilupeju, Lagos.	10a.m.
July 13, 2008	Bro. & Hajia Ismail Hamzah	8, Idowu Olaitan Street, Gbagada Estate Phase 2, Lagos.	10a.m.

This year, we intend to have only 2 prayer meetings and these prayer meetings are to be held as follows:

Date	Host	Venue	Time
22nd February 2009	Alhaji & Alhaja Toye Bamiduro	33, Association Avenue, Off Magodo Road, Shangisha	10 a.m.
June 2009	Alhaji & Hajia Munir Animashaun	To be advised	10a.m.

The prayer meeting hosted by Alhaji & Alhaja Toye Bamiduro on 22nd February 2009 was successful. Despite tThe fact that attendance was not poor with a lot to be desired in our attendance at programsbut it was not satisfactory.

4. Annual Public Lecture / Luncheon: In year 2008, our annual public lecture / luncheon was sacrificed for the launching of the Network Project for the Disabled (NPD) which came into being in one of our public lectures held in 1998 at UNILAG. The launching was a big success as well as a great landmark for UNIIFEMGA. The report of the committee was submitted and it is under review.

This year, we intend to hold our purposefully sacrificed annual public lecture between July and August 2009. Venue and other reliable information relating to the event will be made known to members soon.

Worthy of mention is the fulfillment of pledges made by Lagos State Government by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. A sum of NGN3.5million was received from LASG and applied as follows:

i.   NGN 2million to the O.A.U. Central Mosque, Ile-Ife under construction.
ii.  NGN 1million to UNIIFEMGA, Lagos Chapter aimed at rehabilitation of its Secretariat and
iii.  NGN 500k to National UNIIFEMGA

5. Ramadhan Joint Iftar: The blessed month of Ramadhan comes only once in an Islamic calendar. In 2008, the Ramadhan Joint Iftar was hosted by Dr. Kunle Oderinu at Anwar Islam Mission Hall at No. 8-10 Eric Manuel Crescent, Off Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos on 20th September, 2008.

Insha-Allahu, this year’s Ramadhan Joint Iftar has been fixed for 5th September, 2009 after considering some of our members who may be observing Umrah.this year.

6. Residential Retreat: Due to circumstances beyond the Capacity Building Committee’s control, the year 2008 edition of the residential retreat could not be held in 2008 but was successfully held between 13th – 15th March 2009. We commended the efforts of the committee and its members.

7. Retreat for the Elders: It is a pity despite the fact that we have been singing this song even before the advent of our tenure, we are still unable to fulfill our promise. Insha-Allahu, we have decided to hold one on October 11, 2009 because of its importance to our members especially the Elders.

8. Biennial General Meeting: This comes up once in 2 years. This programme serves as the end of one executive as well as the birth of another executive. We hope to hold the programme on 20th December, 2009, Insha-Allahu.

9. Mosque Project: The O.A.U. Central Mosque, Ile-Ife, under construction, has assumed another dimension of fund raising towards its completion. UNIFEMGA National is spearheading the fund raising exercise this time around. Brochures and covering letters were produced and distributed to donors before, during and after the funtopia fun of our family picnic. It is our prayer that we should get it right this time, Amin.

10. Humanitarian Project: Our humanitarian project which metamorphosed into Humanitarian Committee is facing serious challenges because members failed to fulfill their promises. We appeal to members to help this committee, be it financial or otherwise, with what it needs to record a success.

11. Annual Due: Our annual due is NGN 6,000 per member. Only few members paid regularly while majority did not. We sincerely urge members to pay their annual due to enable the Chapter finance its programmes and obligations.

May Allah shower His Blessings on our Noble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and crown our efforts with Al-Jannah, Amin.

Maa Salam

ARC. M. A. AKINLUSI
Chairman,
UNIFEMGA - Lagos Chapter.