Plans are afoot to remodel Idah Club, a multi-racial, multinational and cosmopolitan club house situated in the ancient city of Idah, headquarters of the defunct Igala Native Authority and the current headquarters of Idah LGA, Kogi state.
The planned remodeling project, according to the President of Idah Club6575, Chief Samuel Ogali, will give the Club House a modern international status.
In a recent chat with newsmen, Ogali stated that the remodeling project is one of other impactful projects to be executed by the Club.
He lamented the current state of dilapidation of the Club House which according to him was unacceptable especially given the fact that the ancient city of Idah, the ancestral home of the Igala people and melting point of Igala civilization, is a tourist destination; playing host to the Palace of His Royal Majesty, the Attah Igala, the Inikpi Statue, Odoko Statue, Ojuwo Atogwu, Ubiogba Cliff, Odogo and others.
To achieve this, he said Idah Club 6575 is organizing a fundraising dinner on the 6th of December 2021 at the Banquet Hall of Chida International Hotel, Jabi, Abuja at 4pm.
Ogali called on all well-meaning individuals, men of good will, philanthropists and friends of the Club to make history and write their names in gold by gracing the occasion and donating generously towards achieving the project.
The Club is aiming to raise 500 million Naira to be spread among the various projects being envisioned.
Chief Samuel Ogali further stated that a committee had been set up by the club with Hon. Paul Ogwu Ukwenya as Chairman and funds made available, to plan and organise the Fund raising program.
Ukwenya and he confirmed that the Committee had been inaugurated and has since swung into action.
The new complex, according to him, will include a Club House, a 30 room lodging facility, a swimming pool, a banquet hall, a sports center which includes a gym/fitness center, an indoor sports hall (table tennis, snooker, chess, draught etc), a lawn tennis court, hand ball, basketball, volleyball and squash courts among others.
Chief Ogali also disclosed that funds have been made available for the procurement of drugs and eye glasses for the free medical outreach billed to take place on the 27th of December 2021 at the Idah Zonal Hospital.
Idah club 6575 was established on the 31st October, 2018 by Chief Samuel Ogali, the founder and current president, by the creation of a Whatsapp platform with the initial name as IDAH BOYS 65-75 REUNION. Names of people of like minds were added to the platform and the maiden reunion was held on the 26th December, 2018 at Igalamela/Odolu Guest Inn.
During deliberation at the reunion, opinion was raised to change the name and it was unanimously agreed that the body be known, called and addressed as Idah Club 6575. The club has its motto as “Udama, Uredo Kpai Unyogba”. It is a social, non-partisan club with membership drawn from those born in the local government areas comprising Idah Federal Constituency namely; Idah, Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu and Ibaji, between 1965-1975.
A world class club with 109 members spread across major cities in Nigeria and in the diaspora, the Club parades a retinue of high net-worth personalities of famed corporate and social standing on its membership, on the executive committee headed by the President, Chief Samuel Ogali, and on its Board of Trustees, under the chairmanship of Chief Charles-Lwanga Okwoli.
The main purpose of the club is to foster unity, peace and development in Idah and also to synergize, collaborate and partner with Government, private institutions and individuals to bring the much needed socio-economic development through community service to Idah and Igala land in general.
The Club has been able to come out firm on peace advocacy. During the last general election in April, 2019, IC6575 Peace Advocacy posters were pasted everywhere in Idah. Similarly, during the Kogi State gubernatorial election in November, 2019, the Club’s Peace Advocacy messages were on Amikad Bill Boards in the heart of Lokoja and Anyigba respectively, and the posters were also everywhere in Idah.
27th December, 2019, the Club’s medical team embarked on free medical outreach and it was a huge success. Also, the Club’s Education Committee went to the field and registered 50 indigent students for 2020 JAMB. It has also selected ten secondary schools in Idah. The eight secondary schools’ principals will select 5 each of indigent but brilliant students annually for the Club to get them registered.
In the area of security, the Club has been dialoguing with Nigerian Police on how to find a lasting solution to social vices like thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, juvenile delinquency, cultism etc.
The Club has in its kitty, blueprints of projects to be executed on short term, medium term and long term basis. No doubt, members of Idah Club 6575 are determined to change the ugly narratives in the ancient city of Idah through collective and deliberate efforts towards restoring the lost glory of the ancient city.
