UTOBF Marks Anniversary, Pledges Greater Community Support
A formidable non-governmental organization, Uyo Town Old Boys Foundation (UTOBF), Akwa Ibom State, has marked one-year of existence with laudable record of community service.
The organization which was inaugurated on December 29, 2019 at Sam Law Hotel, Uyo, the state capital, has so far attracted membership within Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Celebrating God’s amazing grace on its 1st anniversary at Oliver Tweest Gardens, Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo, on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, the president of the reputable body, Hon. Eugene Idongesit Ekanem offered thanks to the Almighty God for His grace and mercy and for the sustenance of life throughout the past one year.
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Hon. Ekanem gave insight on the formation of the body, adding that so far it has been formally registered and issued with certificate of incorporation by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
His words, “Considering the fact that we had lived in Uyo, worked and schooled in Uyo and did various businesses in Uyo way back in the ‘70s, we decided to assemble as a family and adopt the name Uyo Town Old Boys Foundation. This group has been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission – CAC/IT/No. 143065 and its members are those who had known the nooks and crannies of Uyo as a town then.
“The criteria for membership are for persons of 50 years of age and above. The vision of this group is to bring back that union, love, friendship and bond that existed among us.”
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According to him, the objective of UTOBF includes the promotion of unity amongst members and for the development of both humans and physical infrastructure of Uyo town and the environs.
He added that the group also undertakes charitable programmes to benefit the less privileged in Uyo and to empower indigent citizens, the sick and the elderly and to set up a reward system in the society.
Listing part of its achievement, Hon Ekanem said, the organization has so far played laudable supportive role following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the early part of 2020.
“We became proactive and with financial support from members at home and in the diaspora, we immediately produced customized face masks and donated them to traders at Uyo Plaza, offices, men of the Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, the Nigerian Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State, Traders at Mbiabong Timber Market, people of Ifianyong in Uruan LGA, Ibiaku Itam community, Nung Oku Ibesikpo, Ibiono Ibom and most importantly to every member of UTOBF residing in Nigeria as part of COVID-19 safety procedures.
On the state of the nation, the UTOBF expressed serious concern about the security situation in the country and appealed to the government at all levels to take the security of lives and property in the country as very important and to ensure that no effort is spared in restoring normalcy nationwide.
As part of its activities for the year 2021, the president announced that the body will commence membership validation from January 1, 2021 as well as intensify the acquisition of office complex to serve as its secretariat and called on members to pay up their contributory funds.
Hon. Ekanem announced that executive members have paid homage to the village head of Uyo, Eteidung (Rev.) Aniedi Okon as well as the paramount ruler of Uyo, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon.
The end of the year dinner at Oliver Tweest on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 climaxed with a street party at Akpakpan Street, Uyo, the state capital.
