By Mazi Austin Ofoha
(Incoming National Secretary, ORAUSA).

Sunday June 27, 2021 will be a significant date in the history of Orlu Regional Assembly, USA. On this day, during the Virtual National Convention, new executives will be elected to pilot the affairs of the sociocultural organization that is the umbrella body of all indigenes of Orlu Senatorial Zone in Imo State, Nigeria, resident in the United States of America.
Going by ORAUSA tradition of natural succession, and with no opponent at the close of nomination, it is certain that Chief (Dr.) Uzochukwu Wilfred Unegbu will be the next President of this great assembly. The new President will be ably assisted by a new Vice President and other Executives to be elected at this convention.
The incoming ORAUSA new executives will be made up of wise men and women from different works of life, each bringing to the table years of experience in their respective fields. No doubt, ORA USA will be in capable hands at least for the next two years when the tenure of the new executives will elapse. The vision, and mission of the Organization which is to improve the welfare its members, and to positively impact our people back home, will remain the same because in ORAUSA, government is a continuum. With the caliber of men and women in the race for offices in the new executive the association’s activities will gather momentum. It is expected that ORA USA will experience an explosion in membership, new affiliates will be established, more mass oriented programs will be implemented, new projects will be executed, and most importantly, Ala Orlu will be better impacted by the multi-pronged approach of yearly Free Medical Mission, Women empowerment through Micro Financing, Homeland Summit, visits and donations to Orphanages, regular intervention programs in the area of education, security enhancement (through ORAPAC) and infrastructural provision such as developing our landed property in Orlu town.
Since ORAUSA is affiliate-based, we should expect a better synergy between the National body and it’s eighteen or more affiliates. New impetus will be given to the committees like Free Medical Mission, ORAPAC, the youths, projects, women affairs etc.
With the end of the pandemic in sight, as we are nearing herd immunity in the United States, ORAUSA flagship of physical national convention will return to the center stage. It’s expected that the new executives will take the annual gathering of Umu Orlu in the United States to a higher level. Expect better organized conventions with richer activities.
The new executives are aware of the enormity of the task before them. The outgoing executives ably led by Chief Tony Okpara, Ebubedike of Umuaka, will be leaving a big shoe for the new executives to fill in. To achieve these the new executives must hit the ground running. With new zeal, new energy, and experience gained by returning candidates failure is not an option.
It is a new dawn in ORAUSA!.

Mazi Austin Ofoha
(Incoming National Secretary, ORAUSA).