WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ANIOMA WATCH ASSOCIATION, DR. EMEKA ESOGBUE, AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

 WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ANIOMA WATCH ASSOCIATION, DR. EMEKA ESOGBUE, AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Date: September 1, 2026 

Venue: Asaba, Delta State

Protocols duly observed.

Distinguished guests, members of the Board of Trustees, esteemed leaders and stakeholders of Anioma, our newly inaugurated Executive Officers, members of the Anioma Watch Association at home and in the diaspora, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great joy, humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you all to this historic occasion. Today, September 1, 2026, marks another significant milestone in the journey of Anioma Watch Association, an organisation founded in 2022 with a clear commitment to projecting the interests of Anioma people, promoting our rich culture and heritage, and fostering unity among our people. 

Over the years, the Association has grown from its modest beginnings into a vibrant platform, including a thriving WhatsApp community of over one thousand members, united by a common aspiration for a stronger, more prosperous and more cohesive Anioma. In pursuit of our mission to watch over the social, economic and political interests of Anioma and to extend a helping hand to the vulnerable through charitable interventions, we have recorded commendable milestones, including the organisation of the Anioma Legacy Lecture in Asaba, anti-drug abuse programmes in secondary schools across Anioma, and, most recently, an antenatal outreach programme through which new-life starter packs were presented to expectant mothers in five Anioma communities. 

These achievements demonstrate that Anioma Watch Association is not merely an organisation of words and aspirations; it is an organisation committed to action, service and the advancement of our people. It is therefore against this background of shared vision, service and collective responsibility that we gather today to inaugurate a new team of Executive Officers who will be entrusted with the responsibility of taking this noble mission to even greater heights.

As we inaugurate these Executive Officers today, we must recognise that leadership is not a title or position of privilege, but a call to service, sacrifice and accountability. To the newly inaugurated executives, I offer my warmest congratulations and, at the same time, a solemn charge: you have been entrusted with the responsibility of building upon the foundation already laid and of giving fresh impetus to the vision and mission of Anioma Watch Association. You are expected to lead with integrity, humility, transparency and courage; to remain accessible to members; to promote unity rather than division; and to ensure that the interests of Anioma people remain at the heart of your decisions and programmes. 

You must strengthen our engagement with Anioma communities at home and in the diaspora, promote our culture and heritage with pride, expand our charitable and humanitarian interventions, and remain vigilant in monitoring and advocating for the social, economic and political interests of our people. You can only achieve these if you give your time and personal moments. I urge you to see this mandate not as an opportunity for personal recognition, but as a sacred trust bestowed upon you by the Association and by the people whose interests we have pledged to serve. The road ahead may present challenges, but with dedication, teamwork, consultation and an unwavering commitment to the common good, I am confident that you will take Anioma Watch Association to a new level of relevance, impact and influence.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate this important day, let us remind ourselves that the strength of Anioma Watch Association lies not in the name of the organisation alone, but in the collective commitment of its members to the ideals that brought us together. Our diversity across communities and walks of life should be a source of strength, not division. We must therefore continue to build bridges across the Enuani, Ika, and Ndokwa, encourage constructive dialogue, support one another and work together in the best interest of Anioma.

To the new Executive Officers, I once again congratulate you on your inauguration. You have our support, our prayers and our goodwill. But above all, you have our expectations. May your two-year tenure be defined by meaningful programmes, responsible leadership, measurable achievements and a renewed sense of purpose. May you consolidate the gains already recorded by the Association and open new frontiers of service, advocacy, humanitarian intervention and community development.

As a Board of Trustees, we pledge our continued guidance and support to the executive, while also maintaining our commitment to the principles of accountability, transparency and service. We equally call upon every member of Anioma Watch Association to see this new chapter as a collective responsibility. There is a place for everyone in building the Anioma we desire, and every positive contribution, no matter how small, can make a difference.

Our Association has come a long way since its foundation in 2022. From providing a platform for dialogue and advocacy to reaching communities through education, health and humanitarian initiatives, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision. The future, however, demands even greater commitment. We must continue to watch, speak, serve and act—not only when circumstances demand it, but as a continuing responsibility to our people and generations yet unborn.

We have many amongst us who have sacrificed their time, efforts and personal resources because they believe in this Association and the Anioma project as a whole. These people must never be let down. For more than two decades, I have shown personal commitments to the Anioma cause through historical research, and writings, spotlight of indigenes, projection of core civilizations, promotion of the people's cultural institutions and heritage and projection of the people to the world. These have come as sacrifices because of my personal belief that the region and its people deserve a place in global space. You may choose to do better than I have performed.

Let us therefore leave this ceremony with a renewed determination to make Anioma Watch Association an even stronger voice for Anioma, a dependable instrument for community development, a guardian of our cultural heritage and a platform that promotes unity, dignity and progress.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I warmly welcome you all once again and sincerely thank our distinguished guests, members, friends and supporters for honouring this occasion with your presence. May the newly inaugurated Executive Officers be blessed with wisdom, courage and the capacity to serve effectively. May Anioma continue to prosper in peace and unity, and may our collective efforts contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our people.

Long live Anioma Watch Association.

Long live Anioma people.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you all, and God bless you.

Uwaoma nu!

Ogbueshi!

Ajie nu!