To ICD Noble Family 
27 December 2023
A Christmas and End of the Year 2023 Message.

NDI IGBO NA DORSET
It’s been another very busy year. As the year 2023 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at some of our most popular events in 2023. From the organising of monthly meetings in an orderly, efficient, and productive manner to amazing achievements and milestones in delivering a future focused community strategy(FFCS) for ICD. Every ICD member is part of something historic and something immensely precious. I want to say thank you all for your continued commitment and hard work this year. 

Being open to other members’ experiences and respecting their perspectives is helping us to meet the ICD future focused community strategy(FFCS) ambition of creating a community rooted in our values to ensure our services and everyone are inclusive. (For FFCS, read ICD 2022 annual report).

With over 170 registered members now, ICD have continued to build a home away from home for the new members arriving in this part of South Coast of England for University education and to earn a living. The sizeable increase in the registered members is a fantastic achievement as a result of enormous dedication and hardwork among ICD members.

Over the last twelve months I have seen ICD members going above and beyond on a voluntary basis responding to a range of challenges facing our members. Thank you all for your greater love and passion for our noble community. 

The highlights of 2023 was undoubtedly the celebration of:

• The first ever ICD men’s Ogene music and Agaba masquerade, the Amazing ICD women’s dance group, and the Brilliant ICD children’s cultural group.
• The upgraded ICD social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, that have given us a wider publicity this year. 
• The August 2023 new yam/cultural festival which was a huge success. Event featured the ICD men’s Ogene music and Agaba masquerade, ICD women’s dance group, and ICD children’s cultural  group. Dignitaries in attendance were, the current BCP council Chairman,  Cllr Lesley Dedman, Deputy mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar, Deputy mayor of Poole, Cllr Tony Trent and his wife, current mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Krissy Stamp, ex mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Lawrence Wilson, current mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Viv Charrett, ex BCP council  Chairman, Nigel Hedges. We have already sent letters of appreciation to these dignitaries for honouring our invitation. Special thanks to Dr and Mrs Anterus Ezeh(Chairman of the occasion) and Dr Bernard Obika, and others for their attendance and kind donations.
• The 2023 ICD palliatives(organised by the present and past executives. It was to help to alleviate the impact of the cost of living crisis. Much appreciation to National Lottery Community Fund. 
  -Presentation of Award certificates to our Igbo language teachers for the amazing job they are doing and to children that attended ICD Igbo language classes. It was well appreciated by all.

I can’t thank you enough if you have been involved in the processes we have already made in the development of ICD FFCS. If you haven’t yet been involved, there will be plenty of opportunities  to get involved in 2024. Ndi Igbo na Dorset, you will all see that we have so much to celebrate in not only the improvements already made to our processes, but with the development of supports ICD can offer to its members. I am truly grateful to all those helping to realise our dreams.

PATRONS AND SENIOR CITIZENS
To our able Patrons Dr Emma(Udemba na Dorset and Mrs Chika Udezue, Aunty Rose Kaye and other senior citizens, thank you all for your generous support which have helped us achieve our goals.

ICD HEADS OF DEPTS
Together, we are working to build a stronger community greater than any one of us. The work we do matters. It has a real impact on ICD members’ lives. The ICD executives can’t thank you enough for your continued support, hardwork and dedication. We simply couldn’t do it without you all.

ICD EXECUTIVES 
It is a huge privilege for me to work with you all, and to lead such a formidable team of volunteers. You do a great job and yet again you delivered amazing things throughout the year under challenging circumstances. Thanks to  you all for giving out your precious time to serve our noble group.

CHRISTMAS 
Christmas is biblically linked with giving and receiving gifts. The Christians believe God gave us the best gift ever in the form of his son, Jesus Christ that whosoever believes in him will receive the gift of  eternal life and forgiveness. Even the three wise men brought him valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh which are very symbolic of Jesus’ life and eventual death according to the Bible. I am not trying to sound like a Priest, Pastor or Preacher. Obviously, being Christians haven’t exempted us from the ups and downs of life, but Jesus presence in our lives gives us courage, support and guidance when we need it most, because we have accepted the gift of His love for us. We are conscious that this time of the year can be difficult for some of our families and friends in down town motherland, please remember them in all your plans.

I am so proud of what ICD have achieved since its formation. As an organised and transparent community group, we aim to leverage our collective knowledge and expertise to achieve our goals. Once again, thank you all for your Commitment and support. Long live Igbo Community in Dorset! Long live the Dorset County!! Long live ndi Igbo gburugburu!!!

I wish you all merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous new year 2024.

Tony Agwagah 
President 
Igbo Community in Dorset(December 2023)