From the Office of International President: PRESS RELEASE Nka Annang Elects a Nigerian Coordinator The Annang Heritage Preservation Inc. also known as Nka Annang, A US-based Association of the Annangs of Nigeria, has inched slowly home by electing a Nigerian National Coordinator in its just concluded international election to that office. Five candidates vied for that office that saw Mr. Udo Utibe emerged as the victor. Mr Utibe Udo hails from Ukana Ikot Akpabio, Essien Udim Local Government Area. He holds a B.sc in Policy Science and Administration, Diploma in Personnel Management from the prestigious University of Calabar. He is also a Chartered Public Administrator, Chartered Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria. He is an author of two books: The Neglected Sowers and History of Essien Udim ( Yesterday, Today and the Future). In his acceptance speech Mr. Utibe promised to work and preserve the Annang rich culture and traditions, which have in recent years been soiled by the European cultural influence. He also promised to work together to promote the unity of the Annang extraction. In announcing the result of the election, the chair of the election committee, Barrister Gabriel Ette (no relation to the international president) urged all contestants to join hands and build the organization. In his part the International President of the organization, Prof. Ezekiel Ette, congratulated Mr Utibe and reiterated the mission of the organization. He called on all Annangs to unite and work together with all Annang organizations for the good of the community. Annang Heritage Preservation Incorporated or Nka Annang (AHPI) was formed in the United States as a way to project and preserve the Annang language and culture in the face of globalization. By 2006 the organization had embarked on researching and writing the Annang history (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaang_people also see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikot_Ekpene . Deconstructed history and the politicization of the Annang identity became the first thing to be tackled by the organization. Consequently, publishing houses were contacted and the true history of the Annangs was shared with these entities which resulted in changes in some publications. The organization, led by Professor Ezekiel Ette, further embarked on sensitizing Annang political leaders about the need to preserve our history through the renaming of streets and roads in all of our land. The organization believes that the Ibibios and Annangs are one and therefore should join together and see the state creation issue as a right within the Nigeria polity. They reject attempts by groups and individuals to tear the two groups apart. AHPI takes the preservation of the Annang language very seriously in light of the extinction of many languages and tongues in the last fifty years. As globalization spreads and the English language becomes the common language of the world, experts predict that indigenous languages would disappear. Annang heritage members have seen this around the world as non-archival languages disappear at an alarming rate. Therefore , AHPI has already prepared textbooks and teacher’s instruction manuals using the Annang orthography commissioned by Ati Annang in 2001. They continue to call on the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Education to reject politics and approve the Annang textbooks for use in our primary schools. AHPI takes the education of Annang people very seriously and the scholarship division engages in matching individuals with international bodies and schemes in order to develop our land and people. The organization is not organized to influence politics and political outcomes, but is seriously interested in policies that affect how the people live and issues of self-determination. STRUCTURE The body is registered in several states in the United States. Under the organization’s constitution, governance is directed by a board of directors known as Afe Nkuku in the Annang language. Members of Afe Nkuku are drawn from all eight Local Government areas that currently make up Annang in Nigeria. Each chapter conducts own elections and keep the Afe Nkuku abreast of issues that affect our people. Membership in Annang Heritage Preservation is drawn from the local chapter that sets own membership dues. The Afe Nkuku meets once a year to set policies, determine goals and amend laws and rules at a location determined by the body. Meetings before the annual colloquium are conducted electronically. The Annang Writers’ Association, an arm of the organization, reports to the Afe Nkuku and engages in the publication of books and articles around the world. -Prof. Ezekiel Ette International President - Nka Annang.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:30:38 +0000
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