THE HISTORY OF IKOT EYO DEVELOPMENT

ASSOCIATION IN DIASPORA (IEAD)

The  IKOT EYO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN DIASPORA (IEAD) was formed in 2018, the outcome of informal contacts by indigenes of the village of Ikot Eyo, Ubium, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria resident in the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Germany.

It grew out of their informal contact with one another as they reached out to one another on a regular basis to discuss issues of common interest. It started with routine phone calls and discussions about what was happening in their homeland.

Among other concerns, they discussed health care, education, and clean water supply. The initiative to form IEAD grew out of the shared need to take action to establish a mechanism and means of not only community development but of promoting individual and community participation.

Thus, the idea of forming IEAD as  as a charitable organizations. The short term goal was to  embark on the provision of free short term medical and surgical mission, and to provide other charitable services.  In the past, such services were provided haphazardly by individuals. IEAD was expected to provide coordination. In that role, IEAD would facilitate community mobilization and fundraising for identified and approved projects.,

After 2018 free medical and surgical mission to Nsit Ubium in Africa, one of the indigents who attended the mission came with a suggestion that such help could be extended to our brothers and sisters at homeland who are in poor health conditions without the necessary financial ability to secure health care.

Significant progress was made following the formation of IEAD in terms of  pooling the resources and partnering with other agencies to to help the underprivileged and the disadvantaged.. The formation of IEAD  was accepted and supported by some kind hearted people and membership of the association increased as time went on.

In 2019, IEAD  started renovating the abandoned healthcare center which co-hosted the 2019 medical mission to Nsit Ubium in Nigeria. They also provided funding for the renovation of some dilapidated structures in the only High School in Ikot Eyo, in addition to other youth development initiatives.. IEAD  is also  funding the renovation of two staff quarters and Operating Room block in preparation of 2023 free medical mission in October