Ideas are the most powerful tools in the universe. Science and Technology are the creative inventions of ideas put to test. The greatest ambitions and accomplishments are derived from them. The world is driven by them. Sometimes ideas are a mere situational inspiration spontaneously striking the mind in time and space. But often, they are the triggered reactions to the events and challenges of life. Necessity as we know it, is the mother of invention.

De Summit Club of Nigeria, Port Harcourt came into being from the debris of a broken hope, a failed anticipation and the compelling determination of some young, visionary and dynamic Enugu State indigenes resident in Port Harcourt to make history. They had attended the monthly meeting of the Hilltop Club of Port Harcourt, another umbrella body of Enugu State indigenes in Rivers State as observers intent on becoming members. These young professionals however left the venue of that meeting with a sour taste in their mouth. They were uncomfortable with what they considered a less than acceptable treatment from their own. They vowed never to return to that forum but they were also determined to find expression for themselves and their kind within that hemisphere.

The year was 1991. This was a dark era, a lean chapter in the history of Enugu State, a young state then, just struggling to wean itself of their dependence on her Anambra “oppressors”, eager to assert itself as viable, contending with the worst educational, civil service and human capacity indices in the country but unwilling to be relegated or court the wrong judgment of posterity.

And so, spurred by the overriding desire to fly the flag of Enugu State in Rivers State, galvanize support for the new state; a long awaited reality and contribute positively to the development and success of Enugu State as well as champion the cause of the interests of her people in Rivers State, a decision was reached by these curious optimists to come together and begin the journey of ‘midwifing’ the birth of a new body representative of an ideological commitment to defending the interests of Enugu State and her people.

One meeting after another, faced with the challenges of building a new project, the meetings which were held in a member’s house then, soon became rotated amongst the members as the population rose for both logistic and strategic reasons. The reward of all that today is DE SUMMIT CLUB OF NIGERIA, PORT HARCOURT, a social, non religious and non political organization exclusively preserved for persons of Enugu State origin who are graduates of tertiary institutions of learning and who show further eligibility in character. The club was formally inaugurated in 1992 with great fanfare and with audacious optimism under the pioneering leadership of our inaugural president Engr. Charles Ozor.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES/MEMBERSHIP

Amongst others, the objectives include to foster fellowship and positive co- operation amongst indigenes of Enugu State and to contribute to the development of the socioeconomic life of Enugu State and the nation in general.

Membership is open only to people who are indigenes of Enugu State who hold a minimum of Bachelors degree or its equivalent or persons who have attained managerial positions through formal or informal training.

ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB:

Since inception, the club has held its regular monthly executive and general meetings consistently. At the onset, guided by the concept of the spirit of knowing your brother to his home, the meetings were rotated and hosted in turns at members’ homes. This fired up the spirit of the brotherhood and love and inspired unity and understanding. However, with increasing numbers of members taking up accommodations distributed across the full spread of Portharcourt and the progressively worsening traffic situation in the city, the need for a centralized hosting venue was considered.

At the end of each year for over ten years running, the club has successfully observed her end of year thanksgiving love feast tagged SUMMIT FAMILY DAY. The occasion brings together the entire household of summit members; man, wife, children and dependants. They have continued to remain a promise of events to desire as they are usually fun and activity packed. The events offer our families the opportunity to interact, familiarize, establish friendship and love at diverse levels. At these occasions, we showcase the rich cultural heritage of Enugu State.

The club has successfully acquired a landed property in Port Harcourt awaiting development. This property when ready will ultimately serve as our national secretariat and regular venue for our meetings in the future. We have instituted a cooperative/trust fund for members. The management of the trust fund has improved the general human capacity of members and their financial management skills and benefits.

Our welfare scheme has inspired great confidence and support. We remain our brothers’ keepers all the way. Brothers in need are leveraged. We stop at nothing to champion the cause of the distressed amongst us.

Enugu State and the affairs of the state remain the cornerstone of our preoccupations in the club. We are deeply concerned about the dwindling male enrolment in secondary and tertiary educational institutions, the possibility of our quota on the national scene on various matters not reaching us commensurately, our inability to courageously find answers to the speculations about rich oil deposits in parts of Enugu including Uguwooba and its environs, the spate of kidnappings, armed robbery and killings and various other forms of insecurity in the state, the fact that most industries in the state still lie in coma many years after they went out of operation and the realization that Enugu, the Eastern Regional Capital, East Central State Capital, Head of Government in the old Anambra State and in the current dispensation still ranks amongst the second half of the rich states in this country etc. The club had in the past sponsored bills on the floor of the State House of Assembly to address some of the above matters. We have not succeeded and we are not giving up, so long as these remain and they always do.

The world has gone beyond waiting on government to do everything for the people to the principles of Public Private Partnership (PPP). Partnering with government, partnering with the people. De Summit Club commenced school projects in Enugu along the cleavages of the three senatorial zones. We have aptly captioned these SENATORIAL PROJECTS. They involve renovation and rehabilitation of primary/secondary schools buildings, equipping libraries with books, provision of seats and other items of furniture. Some of the communities that have benefited from this laudable scheme include: Ndiagu Umana, Enugu Ezike, Imezi Owa, Ugbawka, Umundu, etc.

De Summit Club also instituted an annual awards and honours scheme for the best graduating student at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) and Enugu State University of Science Technology (ESUT). These are all ongoing.

In July, 2000, the club, under the able leadership of Engr. Sam Uwaezuoke as president sponsored the first and elaborately successful symposium of De Summit Club in Enugu touching on the challenging issues of that moment. It was a resounding event having in participation, resource persons drawn from prominent chieftains of industries and government representatives. That project included sensitization jingles to empower the youth, creating public awareness on child education especially male enrolment which lasted for almost one year.

At the Enugu- Abia boundary on the approach from Port Harcourt on the expressway, the club hoisted a “WELCOME TO ENUGU STATE” giant bill board ushering visitors and tourists in to the Coal City state.

AFFILIATIONS:

For the great ideals that the club represents and pursues, it has built alliances and bridges of collaboration across the divide of time and space to optimize its objectives for Enugu State. Accordingly, it is closely associated to and partnering with the Hilltop Club Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos, Pena Club of Lagos, both exclusive clubs for Enugu indigenes. It is also a component unit of NAFEPA, an umbrella organisation knitting the activities of clubs sympathetic to the cause of Enugu State.

Out of the expedience and necessity of filling the gap of having a representative body for our people in Enugu, De Summit Club during the regime of Arch. Isaac Nebo initiated and presided over the foundation of Zenith Club of Enugu. This has since stabilized and plays the pivoted role of sustaining the roles befitting of the ancestral forebears.

RISING FROM A SURE FOUNDATION:

By tradition, we of De Summit Club characterize our activities especially at meetings with such decorum, discipline and the application of the bylaws of the constitution as to approximate a leadership training ground for members. Not surprisingly therefore, the club has produced great Nigerians in self employment, captains of industries, proud professionals, distinguished public servants and worthy sons and daughters who by dint of dignity and service have been found worthy to be appointed into prominent public positions.

The following are some of them: Engr. Eddy Nwatarali, second president was once the administrator of Eziagu North Local Government Area of Enugu State. He is the current INEC Commissioner to Bayelsa State. In both instances, his records have been outstanding. Nwatarali is a civil engineer of distinction as well as a chartered accountant, a no mean combination for extraordinary performance.

Barr. Chineye Orji was the local government council secretary to Udi Local council and a serving Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief (Dr.) Ike Ekweremadu. He is not just a member, now a distant member but he was an eminent PRO of the club.

Arch. Afam Ugwu, a founding member of the club and respected statesman rose to be appointed into the board of the Enugu State Ministry of Commerce and Industries as Chairman. He has been another summit gift to Enugu State.

During the 15th Convocation ceremony of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, 11/5/13, a major player in the affairs of the club Engr. Cyril Udeh, a leader, mentor, peace advocate and engineering guru was conferred with the award of the prestigious Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration. Another gift of summit club to Nigeria.

THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB:

De Summit Club has asserted itself positively on its immediate environment, Rivers State, Port Harcourt, providing direction and support to our young men as they come into the city. It has stood out over the years as a major player and stakeholder in the social as well as economic indicators of the state. It desires to pursue more vigorously its set objectives, showing greater and more palpable grip on the people and governance of Enugu State.

With the mile stone record of planting Zenith Club in Enugu, it proposes to replicate itself across the major states and cities of Nigeria including Abuja to network its ideals, traversing the entire length and breadth of Nigeria, ensuring that matters that affect us in the country are responsively and responsibly managed and that good governance and progress prevail in the land.