Diaspora Desk

Baton Rouge Mayor To Declare Open Eko Club International (ECI) Biennial Conference

Published

3 years ago

Oct 22, 2021.

Eko Club International (ECI), the apex socio-cultural community of Lagosians in the diaspora has announced plans for its 12th Biennial Convention.

As gathered by Eko Hot Blog, the event is slated to kick off on Thursday, October 28th, 2021, with a party bus ride to New Orleans, United States of America.

The club will also visit Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank on Friday, October 29th, where they will make a goodwill donation to the victims of Hurricane IDA as part of its community outreach program.

The outreach programme will be followed by the opening of the Economic Session of the 12th biennial convention of the organization due to commence on October 28th, and run through October 30th, 2021.

More than 200 members of the club spread across its different chapters in the United States, Canada and Europe are expected to be in attendance.

Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor of Baton Rouge will declare the Economic Session open.

The theme of the 12th biennial convention of the ECI is “Food /Infrastructure and Community Safety- Strategy for Lagos state, Nigeria.”

Over 1000 participants from the United States, Europe and Canada, officials of the Lagos State Government and traditional rulers from Nigeria will attend the 12th biennial conference of the organisation.

The convention chairman, Agbalajobi, describing the modalities in place ahead of the convention said strict covid-19 protocols would be observed throughout the duration of the convention. He also added that all attending guests are to provide proof of vaccination by sending in their vaccinations cards.

Hon. Femi (Solar) Igbalajobi. Chairman ECI 2021 12th Biennial Convention.

The club’s PRO, Mrs Bisi Rokosu Salawe Lawal, in an interview with Eko Hot Blog, said the biennial convention usually draws more than ten thousand participants across the globe, but bearing Covid-19 and its attendant implications in mind, that number is expected to reduce significantly.

Hon. Bisi Rokosu-Lawal ECI PRO

The convention will kick off on Thursday, October 28th with a Party Bus Ride to New Orleans followed by Entertainment @ Manning’s – 519 Fulton St, New Orleans.

Friday, October 29th will feature the customary community outreach programme at Baton Rouge Food Bank in the morning to be followed by the Ankara Night which will last between dusk and midnight.

On Saturday, October 30th, the curtain of the event will fall with a 3 miles marathon, a conference meeting, an election to usher in new executives as well as the Gala night.

Lanre Ojo, the club president, said the 12th biennial convention was special in many ways, particularly since its the first since lockdown restrictions occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lanre Ojo. President Eko Club International

He also described the event as a platform to thank God for the grace of egressing the pandemic with all the austerity that came with it.

Attorney O.J Lawal, a President Emeritus of the club hailed the commitment of the organisation in keeping up with its community development programs in spite of the Covid-induced economic crunch that has affected individuals and corporate organisations alike.

Attorney OJ Lawal, President Emeritus

Alhaji Zainudeen Popoola, another President Emeritus lauded the club’s drive to live up to its responsibilities, even in the harshest of circumstances, a quality he likened to the “irrepressible Nigerian spirit.”

ECI President Emeritus, Hon. Alhaji Zainudeen Popoola Aromire.

Otunba TJ Abass, another President Emeritus of Eko Club International and the publisher of Eko Hot Blog lauded the club for staying a true definition of altruism through its serial life changing initiatives at home and abroad.

ECI President Emeritus, Otunba TJ Abass

With economic adversity experienced across board in the wake of Covid-19, Eko Club International, in line with its primary objective has proactively contributed to the post-pandemic economic recovery through the provision of palliatives across the five divisions of Lagos State as well as a N50,000 cash empowerment programme to 250 entrepreneurs in the state.

Below are pictures of ECI Empowerment Project in Lagos: