MINUTES OF THE NBADF MEETING HELD ON SUNDAY, 5TH JULY 2026

Meeting Type: Regular Meeting 

Date: Sunday, 5th July 2026 

Time: 8:00 P.M to 10:00 P.M.] 

Chairman: His Excellency, Ambassador Oguntuase Kayode 

General Secretary: Mr. Emmanuel Essien

Venue: Virtual

1.0 OPENING

His Excellency, Ambassador Oguntuase Kayode opened the meeting by thanking members and welcoming them. He expressed appreciation for everyone gathered and stated that the commitment and presence of members at all times had kept the Forum going. He urged that such commitment be sustained further, whether through presence or by any other necessary means. He acknowledged that times were difficult, remarking that it was "one kind" in Nigeria presently, and noted that this hardship was not peculiar to Nigeria alone, as the global economy was fighting hard on people everywhere. He observed that despite this, the Forum had managed to remain calm and to keep itself afloat.

He appreciated the culture of giving among members, noting that contributions had come in different forms — whether in kind, in time, in resources, or in other forms of input — and stated that all such contributions were appreciated. He remarked that no individual could reward another person as God rewards, describing God's reward as sustainable, of true quality, and without blemish ("does not add any sorrow"). He expressed the belief that God would continue to reward members for all their activities.

His Excellency moved to the adoption of the minutes, noting that the Forum usually did not spend much time on this item. He stated, however, that the last minutes should first be read so that members could be reminded of the issues earlier discussed, and so that those issues could also form part of the focus of the present meeting's deliberations. He then called on the Secretary to read the minutes.

It was confirmed that the minutes to be read were those of the NBADF meeting held on the 31st of May 2026. His Excellency remarked that, going by the record, no meeting had been held in the month of June.

2.0 READING AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 31ST MAY 2026

Mr. Emmanuel Essien, the General Secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting held on Sunday, 31st May 2026, highlighting all major items discussed comprehensively. The minutes covered:

- The opening prayer and His Excellency's welcome;

- Concerns about insecurity and the situation of His Royal Majesty, the Emir of Yashikira;

- The reading and adoption of previous minutes with corrections regarding Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman's name;

- Barrister Yisa Abubakar's motion for adoption, seconded by Dr. Raji Ahmed;

- The security incident involving the Emir of Yashikira, including Barrister Yisa's update on the abduction of the Emir's wife and children, military operations, and the reprisal incident in Yashikera;

- Dr. Raji Ahmed's suggestion for a condolence visit committee;

- His Excellency's proposal to write to the Emir, obtain his phone number, and make voluntary contributions;

- Ambassador Aliyu Ndaman's support for financial contributions;

- Madam Malaika's contribution from Morocco supporting prayers and token financial support;

- His Excellency's decision to prioritize writing and phone calls before financial contributions;

- The update on the Soybeans Intervention Meeting with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, including the committee's excellent presentation, the lead paper status, and commendations from Ministry officials;

- Barr. Lasisi Bisiriyu Fanu's commendation of the committee;

- Financial matters, including concerns about low contributions, the proposal to publish outstanding debts, Ambassador Ndaman's advice for individual outreach first, and the agreement on text message reminders;

- The formal appointment of Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu Lasisi as Financial Secretary;

- Barrister Yisa's advice to formalize the appointment through resolution and Corporate Affairs Commission filings;

- Further matters on His Royal Highness, including the proposal for a contribution account;

- A member's question about the Emir's three wives and children;

- Alhaji Lasisi's note on confidential receipt handling;

- The adjournment moved by Ambassador Ali Ndaman and seconded by Barrister Lasisi, with Dr. Ajibare giving the closing prayer.

After the reading, His Excellency thanked the Secretary, describing the minutes as very comprehensive and detailed. He remarked that it was quite expedient and good that the house went through it, since a number of issues had arisen at that meeting and there had also been a gap. He noted that, from the record, no meeting had been held in the month of June, which he described as very bad, adding that this was at least once and that he did not think it could be allowed to be as bad as that again. He stated that this would not be allowed to repeat itself, as the function of an association was to meet regularly and frequently, and that without regular meetings, follow-up on issues would not take place.

His Excellency then welcomed "Hajia," and exchanged brief pleasantries welcoming her back.

His Excellency remarked that it was good that the record had been kept, noting that the record showed that for a full thirty days the Forum did not meet, which he stated should not be allowed to happen again — no matter how long, the gap would not be allowed to stretch that far again. He noted that many issues had arisen from that period and that some of those issues were also part of what would be discussed at the present meeting.

His Excellency called for the adoption of the minutes just read, and asked whether there were any modifications or changes. He noted one correction: that the Secretary had thanked "Dr. Raji" for attending the Soyabeans meeting, whereas it was in fact Alhaji Alaso-Adura who had attended and not Dr. Raji. He directed that this be amended accordingly. This correction was duly acknowledged. He then asked whether there were any further amendments, and in the absence of any other issue, called for a motion for adoption.

Ambassador Ali Ndaman moved the motion for the adoption of the minutes of the last meeting as read by the Secretary. The motion was seconded by Barrister Yisa.

3.0 MATTERS ARISING: UPDATE ON THE SITUATION OF HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, THE EMIR OF YASHIKIRA

His Excellency raised the update on the situation and condition of His Royal Majesty, noting that it had been about a few months since the Forum made several proposals regarding his support, and expressing concern that follow-up on those proposals had not been fully carried out. He noted that some members had been able to get through to His Royal Majesty by phone while others had not.

He recalled that, in addition to the proposal for members to make financial contributions, the Forum had also resolved to write a letter to His Royal Majesty, and he reminded the Secretary that this letter still needed to be written. He raised the question of how the letter should be delivered, whether by email — if still functional — or through an intermediary. He stressed the importance of writing the letter and then also continuing to make telephone calls to His Royal Majesty as often as he was able to receive them, noting that at the time of his last attempted contact, His Royal Majesty had not been able to speak much or receive many calls, though the situation was believed to have since improved. He stated that as many calls as possible would help cheer him up and reassure him that members were concerned about his condition and situation, and were praying for improvement and for the relief of those taken captive.

His Excellency then called on a member (referred to as the Vice-Director) to provide an update before proceeding further.

Alhaji Umar Barka gave an update noting that the Emir was better in health now. He stated that after the incident he had needed to be hospitalized, but that he had personally seen him two days prior and spoken with him. He reported that those abducted were still with the bandits in the bush, who were demanding ransom, and that the Emir was trying to see what he could do to raise the amount being demanded. He confirmed that the Emir was available on the phone, and offered to visit him again on behalf of the association, inviting any other members based in Ilorin to join him.

His Excellency thanked him for the update, expressing gratitude that contact had been made and that the situation was improving. He requested that the number through which the Emir could be reached be shared with the group. The member responded that the Emir's own numbers had not been reachable, and that he had only been able to locate him by asking around and being directed to where he was staying.

Hajia Habeebah asked which hospital the Emir was in. It was clarified that he was not in the hospital, but at home.

His Excellency proposed that two mechanisms be used going forward: first, the formation of a committee of members to visit the Emir on the Forum's behalf; and second, for individual members, particularly those based in Ilorin, to also visit him personally. He suggested that members in Ilorin agree on a date and time to visit together. He suggested that Alhaji Barka could arrange it.

Hajia Habeebah noted that she was currently in Abuja and would be returning to Ilorin later. Alhaji Alaso-Adura noted that he was in Lagos. His Excellency noted that since Hajia was already planning to return to Ilorin, she would get in touch with Alhaji Umar upon her return so that the two of them, along with others, could visit together.

His Excellency directed that the Secretary should also prepare the letter to the Emir, suggesting that it would add value for the letter to be sent along with the visiting members. He proposed that the letter be sent to the email addresses of Alhaji Umar or Dr. Raji so they could carry it with them during their visit.

His Excellency then raised the matter of members' financial contribution towards the Emir's situation, stating that the mechanism for making the contribution should be worked out before the end of the month of July, and that whatever members were able to contribute should be given within that month. He called on Alhaji Lasisi to assist in coordinating this.

Alhaji Lasisi Bisiriyu Fanu, joining the discussion, apologized for being in transit and explained that his network had gone off, causing him to miss part of the discussion. He asked for clarification on what the contribution being discussed was for. His Excellency clarified that it was towards the situation of the Emir of Yashikira's household, following the abduction incident. Alhaji Lasisi acknowledged this and asked for an update on whether the Emir was hospitalized or at home. He was informed that the Emir was now at home, his condition having improved and that he had since left the hospital according to the latest update.

His Excellency stated that members should remain in touch with the Emir, expressing confidence that he would soon be able to receive phone calls from members wherever they were. He reiterated that this matter was being treated as an ongoing item (Update on the Emir of Yashikira) and urged that all outlined actions in respect of the Emir be coordinated and followed through, describing him as a very important and committed member of the Forum, in terms of both time and money, and stating that this was the appropriate time to reciprocate that commitment. He confirmed that all issues on this item had been sufficiently discussed and called for a general follow-up to ensure nothing was left undone.

4.0 REPORT ON THE MEETING WITH THE NEW NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN

His Excellency moved to the next item, the update on the meeting with the new Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, noting that a delegation led by Alhaji Alaso-Adura had been sent to meet the Ambassador. He invited Alhaji Alaso-Adura to brief the house.

Alhaji Alaso-Adura greeted His Excellency and members and thanked them for the opportunity. He reported that he had sent a report to the Secretary (DG) covering two separate meetings. He stated that the Ambassador received the delegation very well, and that the delegation was pleased that their counterparts from the Benin Republic chapter were also present. He noted that the first meeting was with the Ambassador, during which he made a presentation, the details of which he had already submitted in writing to the Secretary.

He reported that the second meeting was held with the Forum's counterparts in the Benin Republic, at their office in Calavi, where other issues were discussed, including the challenges facing the Benin chapter, about which some members had raised complaints. He noted that, according to their counterparts, this was considered a private/internal matter, and that he had advised them accordingly, noting that Nigeria did not wish to involve itself in their internal affairs.

He reported that the Benin chapter had resolved to organize a forum meeting that month (around the 12th), to which those who had not previously been part of the process would be invited, and that a further meeting would be held in August with similar inclusive intent. He further reported a third resolution from the Benin side: to explore how to inform the Nigerian government — specifically the Minister of Foreign Affairs — and to arrange a meeting with the President, noting that the Benin chapter would also meet with their own President and Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief them on developments and progress made so far. He noted that a further recommendation was for a joint letter to be signed between the two chapters and for a briefing to be given to the ECOWAS Commission on their activities.

He confirmed that both reports (on the Ambassador meeting and the counterpart meeting) had been sent to the Secretary, who could provide a summary. Regarding the Ambassador meeting specifically, he noted that the Ambassador was happy to receive the delegation, as they had provided her with full details covering trade, security, and trade corridors, and that she was pleased to gain this knowledge. He noted she had honored the delegation not specifically to Alhaji Alaso-Adura or to Hajia individually, but to the Nigeria-Benin delegation as a whole. He noted that the Benin Republic counterparts were also happy to have visited the new Ambassador jointly with the Nigerian delegation, and that their delegation was well composed, including a retired Minister of Health who was a member, as well as a Police Officer.

His Excellency thanked Alhaji Alaso-Adura for the briefing, noting that there might not be time for the Secretary to read the full written reports at the present meeting, but that based on the briefing given, members could still raise issues and discuss. He commended the outcome, noting that it was good that the Forum had introduced itself to the new Ambassador and secured her commitment to working with the group. He observed that it was also beneficial that both the Nigerian and Beninese counterparts attended meetings together, as this demonstrated to the Ambassador that the association had a base in both Nigeria and the Benin Republic, which strengthened the association's standing and solidity.

His Excellency stated that the Forum could not run away from the reality that if the Nigerian side was functioning well while the Beninese side was not, this would affect the ability of both sides to work together. He stated that what the Benin counterparts described as their own private issue could not, in his view, be resolved by them alone, noting that the problem had persisted for some time and had become polarized. He stated his belief that unless the Forum, through a virtual meeting or by creating a platform to bring together the relevant parties in conflict, facilitated the process, the Beninese group would not be able to resolve the matter on their own, describing the two groups as being unable or unwilling to tell themselves the truth.

He stated that one of the individuals referred to as "Colonel" was at fault, specifically in having removed the names of certain original office holders — including the Vice President — and replacing them with other persons, despite the Forum's gratitude for the registration achievement. He stated that this was not the right approach, and that those originally holding such positions, including the Vice President, needed to be restored to their proper positions.

He further raised a second concern regarding "Cornel," relating to the practice of holding meetings physically at members' houses, which he noted was not always convenient for everyone, stating that the Forum itself had transitioned to virtual meetings and that "Cornel" had been advised several times to adopt the same approach, since not everyone could be expected to travel to a particular location for meetings.

On a third point, His Excellency noted issues within the Adeoti's group as well, observing that Alhaja Adeoti did not appear to be well disposed to recognizing "Colonel" as the head of the group, and stated that regardless of who held that position, the person should be accorded due honor and respect. He stated that without this, the group would not be able to move forward, and that all these matters needed to be addressed candidly with the parties involved.

He remarked that convening meetings without engaging the people one had not been in dialogue with would not achieve results, and reiterated his position that the Benin chapter's conflict, while framed as private, could not be resolved internally without external facilitation, describing this as his own considered view based on his study and following of the conflict, while acknowledging that others might agree or disagree. He then opened the floor for comments before proceeding to the next item.

Alhaji Alaso-Adura noted that he had visited "Colonel" in Cotonou. He stated that he had exercised caution during his visit, given his familiarity with the personalities and characters involved. He recounted that he had spoken directly to Colonel in his own house, explaining that the issues could be resolved, and that he had also attempted to reach "Daramola," who was said to be outside the country at the time. He noted that His Excellency, by virtue of his position as Ambassador, listened to everyone and made decisions without creating discord. He mentioned that he told everyone that Colonel was a military man (in the presence of Dr. Olumide), and that the Forum's activities were not a military undertaking; therefore, the command-and-obedience structure that applied within the military could not be applied to the Forum, since Colonel was no longer serving in that capacity. He stated that he had made clear to Colonel that he could not simply issue directives as though presiding over military subordinates.

He observed that issues that could ordinarily be resolved easily within Nigeria became more difficult once other parties introduced their own separate visions or agendas. He suggested that if the Emir of Yashikira had not been affected by his own security crisis, he would have been well positioned to mediate, given his standing and close relationship with all parties, including Cornel. He recalled telling Cornel, during his presentation, that the Forum's membership stretched from Seme to Kamba and that all were regarded as members, yet Colonel's conduct appeared to favor only one side. He stated that he had chosen not to comment further at the time, preferring to report back to the Ambassador and address the matter carefully upon his return, noting that there was much more that had occurred during the visit which he did not wish to go into in detail, adding that he understood certain other members present were already aware of some of these matters. He noted that he had also been told, by someone privately during the visit, that some members had joined the Nigeria-Benin Chamber of Commerce. He stated that he had told them directly that he did not wish to go into that matter in detail, explaining to them that both the Badagry Chamber of Commerce and the Nigeria-Benin Chamber of Commerce should both be under the Nigeria-Benin Advocacy group and that the two things should not be conflated.

His Excellency explained that the issues under discussion relating to Adeoti and "Colonel" were already around before the formation of the Nigeria-Benin Chamber body. He stated that people often introduce unrelated matters into a dispute in order to complicate it, but that the current problem could not be attributed to the Chamber body, since the underlying disagreement between the two men had existed beforehand. He stated that, in his view, it was better to focus on resolving the matters that were directly related.

He clarified, for the information of the house, that the advocacy group and the Chamber of Commerce body (BCCI) could each exist on their own. He explained that, based on his own experience, including during his time serving in Benin and in South Africa — all heads of diplomatic missions are customarily advised to encourage the formation of chambers or councils bringing together trade and commerce-related associations in the countries where they serve. He stated that this was a well-established, statutorily recommended practice, and had nothing to do with the advocacy group itself. He stressed that a person's membership in one body did not stop membership in the other, and that this should be clearly understood by all as not being a source of conflict.

Dr. Raji emphasized the principle that one cannot give what one does not have. He proposed the formation of an arbitration committee, to be headed by the Emir of Yashikira, cautioning that the matter should not be allowed to be blown out of proportion. He advised that a great deal of diplomacy be applied in handling the situation, describing diplomacy as the ability to manage a situation such that even an unfavorable outcome could be presented in a way that the affected party would accept willingly. He stated that considerable work remained to be done, and cautioned that assigning blame to one party while the other perceived unfairness would not serve the Forum's interests, and urged that caution be exercised.

His Excellency responded, explaining that he had deliberately made the matter known to the wider membership because he believed it important for all members to be carried along rather than the issue being known only to the leadership, since a problem of this nature would ultimately affect every section of the Forum. He reiterated that he did not wish to hide facts from members. He stated that an avenue would be sought for the Forum to bring the two disputing parties together, and clarified that participation in the association remained entirely voluntary; should any individual choose to withdraw as a result, that would be their voluntary decision, as joining or remaining in the association was not compulsory.

He thanked Alhaji Alaso-Adura for the steps already taken, including the visits undertaken and the further openings created around the matter, and acknowledged that the underlying issue did not just start. He stated that where individuals proved incompatible, disputes would inevitably arise, and that the two contending leaders in the Benin chapter appeared to be the source of the polarization. He stated that the Forum would engage both parties, and that any individual who failed to abide by the Forum's guidance could be excluded from the association, since the association was larger than any single individual, though all parties would be given a fair hearing.

His Excellency further elaborated on the distinction between the advocacy group and the council of chamber structure. He explained that the NGO of the Forum's nature was distinct in character from a Chamber body, even though the two could coexist without conflict, since government recognized both and their roles could overlap without contradiction.

His Excellency noted that a meeting had been announced by the Benin counterparts for the 12th of July, and stated that the Forum should join such events where possible, noting that it would be easier for the Nigerian side to join the Beninese side's programmes than the reverse. He proposed that the Forum should consider sponsoring delegations for such events going forward, so that members would not always have to bear such costs personally. He noted that the Benin counterparts should always let the Forum know on time of such meetings.

On the matter of engagement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, His Excellency stated that it would be useful to periodically update the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as other relevant government organizations, on the Forum's activities, given that the Ministry served as the Forum's focal point for its Nigeria-Benin operations. He noted that there was a new leadership at the Ministry, and that the new Minister of State was a personal friend and course-mate from his time at a shared institution ("Kolaye"), which he indicated would facilitate engagement. He proposed that a meeting with the Ministry be fixed between now and September, at which the Forum would brief the Ministry on its developments, after which a request could be made for the Ministry to help arrange an audience with the President, noting that this would be subject to the President's availability and schedule. He noted that the Forum's involvement in election observation activities in the Benin Republic had also enabled useful contacts, which could be leveraged to arrange engagement with the ECOWAS Commission.

His Excellency commended the various proposals emerging from the Benin delegation's engagements as good and workable, and stated that the outcome of the trip to meet the new Ambassador, along with the associated developments, had been useful and had moved the Forum's efforts forward. He thanked the delegation for a very useful engagement with the new Ambassador and invited further comments or modifications from members.

5.0 FINANCIAL MATTERS

Alhaji Lasisi Bisiriyu Fanu explained that the exercise of contacting members individually regarding their outstanding indebtedness would proceed, with members to be reached by individual text message rather than public disclosure. It was noted that this exercise would be completed within one week, ahead of the next meeting, and that feedback on member responses would be reported back to the house.

His Excellency explained that some members who had made no contributions at all — whether the ₦25,000 entry contribution or the ₦5,000/₦10,000 monthly levies — and who had also not been participating in meetings, would not need to be specifically contacted, as their inactivity was already evident, and that this exercise would also help the Forum identify its genuinely active members.

Alhaji Alaso-Adura spoke to Alhaji Lasisi directly, raising the matter of his personal financial contributions to the Forum's activities. He explained that when travelling to Abuja, he had flown from Lomé and paid for his own ticket and hotel accommodation, and that when travelling to Cotonou, he had used his own vehicle and paid the associated costs, telling members it was not necessary for him to collect reimbursement. He noted, however, that he wished to raise the broader question of whether he should be expected to continue funding such engagements indefinitely, given the extent of his ongoing personal contributions to the organization's development, and directed this question specifically to Alhaji Lasisi.

In response, Alhaji Lasisi expressed appreciation for his continued financial and personal commitment to the Forum, noting that he had always been available to assist, whether financially or otherwise. It was noted that voluntary contributions of this kind, while appreciated, represented a form of commitment that would be reflected in the record, distinguishing active contributors from members who did not participate, and that his willingness to serve without demanding a fee from the house was helping to resolve some of the Forum's more challenging problems, for which the Forum was grateful.

Dr. Ajibare spoke next, noting that she had likewise travelled by air from Ikorodu to Cotonou to attend meetings on behalf of the organization and then to Port-Novo, incurring costs including accommodation, and that he was now also travelling to Badagry to represent the organization. He stated that while such personal and moral contributions were valuable, they did not remove an individual's obligation to also pay the standard dues of ₦10,000 or ₦5,000 as agreed, remarking that his salary was modest in comparison to such contributions, but expressing hope that other capable members would step forward to support the Forum financially.

Dr. Raji stated that all members present were responsible individuals who understood what needed to be done and when. He commended the Financial Secretary Alhaji Lasisi for work done well, noting that his finances and efforts had helped bring the Forum's financial situation to a better state, and suggested that appreciation be extended to him accordingly. He further stated that where a member contributes financially to an association, it is the association's duty to provide that member with a statement of account showing how the funds were spent, as this would encourage further contributions. He called for the preparation of a proper accounting manual, clarifying roles, authorization procedures, and the chain of command for financial matters, so that the Forum's financial house could be put in order from the outset, to encourage members to continue contributing.

His Excellency commended this observation as very good, and directed that the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Financial Secretary work together on the matter, tasking them with putting in place whatever was necessary to ensure that the Forum's accounting was transparent, orderly, and properly processed. He also reaffirmed that due process, accountability, and transparency would be followed in all financial matters, and that the DG, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary would bring forward any proposals or initiatives needed to ensure proper conduct of the Forum's finances, which the house would follow.

6.0 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

His Excellency noted that based on the record of the last minutes, the Forum had not held a meeting during the month of June, the last prior meeting having been held in May. He noted that it had never happened like that and that the Forum needed to meet regularly. He asked the house what should be done to individuals on the membership list who had not been attending meetings.

Alhaji Lasisi suggested that His Excellency as well as the Director-General should take time to reach out personally to inactive members before any further decision was made on how to proceed regarding them, offering this as a suggestion.

His Excellency welcomed the suggestion, describing it as a very good one, and noted that it had been proposed that inactive members be reached out to and encouraged. He directed that this be attempted, noting that beyond the leadership's own efforts, any member aware of another member who had become inactive, or who had effectively withdrawn from the group without formally saying so, should also speak with such a person, though the ultimate decision to remain or withdraw would rest with the individual concerned. He asked whether there were any other matters, noting that this exercise of outreach should not need to be repeated going forward, as it would otherwise place the Forum in an awkward position.

His Excellency asked whether there were any further issues, stating that the Forum welcomed any initiative capable of moving the association forward. He commended Dr. Raji specifically, noting that he consistently brought forward proposals and issues for the Forum's consideration, and referenced one such matter that had been raised previously which he felt should be given proper attention within the month. He encouraged members to continue bringing forward initiatives, stating that the more initiatives the Forum received, the more expansive and broadened its programme would become. He cited the Soyabeans issue as an example, recalling that it had initially seemed like a matter that was neither bankable nor sellable, but that through sustained work, moving the matter forward and backward repeatedly, it had ultimately developed into a very solid achievement for the Forum. He stated that there was no issue too difficult for the group to take up and discuss, provided the right approach was applied. He further disclosed, in this context, that the President of Zimbabwe had requested a copy of the Forum's report, noting there was interest and value for them in it as well.

His Excellency then raised a matter concerning Dr. Raji, recalling that he had earlier been nominated, along with two other members, to assist with a task relating to the Emir. Dr. Raji acknowledged that he had faced some difficulty attending due to travel constraints. His Excellency noted that the Secretary would write a letter and send it to the email of Dr. Raji so that whenever he and Dr. Umar wanted to go there, the letter would also be delivered.

7.0 CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, THE EMIR OF YASHIKIRA

His Excellency stated that he must not forget the matter of the Forum's contribution towards His Royal Majesty. He recalled that no specific amount had previously been fixed for this purpose, but proposed that whatever was given should not be less than ₦500,000. Members responded with surprise at the figure, with His Excellency maintaining that, given the status of the Emir, the amount should not be less than that sum.

Alhaji Lasisi noted that the contribution should be structured based on the number of members contributing: it was suggested that if there were up to ten contributors, the amount could be ₦50,000 each; if fewer than ten, individual contributions could be higher, with some members noted as having already contributed more than ₦50,000. A member proposed that the minimum individual contribution should be set at ₦50,000, noting that several members of means ("big men," including doctors) within the Forum should be able to double that amount or contribute even more.

His Excellency asked what the timeframe should be for the funds to be made available, stating that a deadline should be fixed and should not be exceeded. It was agreed that an account should be made available for this purpose, to be provided by Alhaji Lasisi, and that contributions should be concluded between then and the end of July, all things being equal. It was agreed that the Secretary (DG) would circulate the relevant account details on the platform.

8.0 MATTER OF SUPPORT STAFF / ACCOUNTING OFFICER FOR THE SECRETARIAT

Dr. Raji raised the issue of engaging an accounting officer, even if only a bookkeeper, within the finance department, to support the Secretary, noting that the Secretary was currently being overburdened with responsibilities that ought to be separated from his secretarial duties. A brief exchange followed regarding the Secretary's workload, with members affectionately cautioning against overworking him further, agreeing that the matter would be discussed further outside the formal meeting to determine the appropriate steps, including the level of support required.

9.0 ADJOURNMENT

His Excellency remarked that it had been a very productive day, noting the late hour (close to 10 p.m.), and called for a motion for adjournment.

Dr. Raji moved the motion for the adjournment of the meeting.

The motion was seconded by Ambassador Ali Ndaman.

10.0 CLOSING PRAYER

The Secretary (DG) was called upon to deliver the closing prayer. **Mr. Emmanuel Essien** thanked God for making the day a pleasant one, during which members had met again and deliberated on issues pertaining to the group, and prayed that God would keep members focused and directed on the path to success, in Jesus' name. Members responded with "Amen."

11.0 ACTION ITEMS SUMMARY

Minutes Recorded By:

Mr. Emmanuel Essien 

General Secretary, NBADF

Confirmed By: 

His Excellency, Ambassador Oguntuase Kayode 

Chairman, NBADF

Contact:

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