By Our Special US Correspondent

Minneapolis, MN (USA) — After delivering a passionate and sobering assessment of the state of children in Delta State and Nigeria in her chairman’s address, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu helps UPU Minnesota surpass its anniversary fundraising goals.

“Without Dr. Ogbuagu UPU Minnesota wouldn’t have been able to raise the amount of money that it did on Saturday night,” said Samuel Olugbade Adedeji of ThomsonReuters in the Twin Cities.

Dr. Ogbuagu appealing for donation from the audience; to her left is UPU Minnesota president Ochuko Okitikpi; to her right is Prof. (Mrs.) Diana Arubayi and Prof. Eric Arubayi.

The approachable and energetic Founder and CEO of Chinkelly Schools in Ekpan-Effurun took the microphone and appealed directly to an audience of more than 150 Nigerians and Americans for donation for Effurun-based St. Anne’s Orphanage, moving from table to table.

The former Delta State education boss earned widespread praise for her hands-on chairmanship of UPU Minnesota 21^st Anniversary Fundraising Dinner on August 17^th at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Brooklyn Center (Twin Cities), Minnesota (USA). And by most account, the event was a rousing success.

“It was well done,” said Ifeanyi Odor, president of Anioma Association of Minnesota, “I was very impressed and others told me they were very impressed too,” Odor added.

Mr. and Mrs. Benard Okitikpi of Chicago digging it out in the Urhobo way during the occassion

A centerpiece attraction of the evening was the superb performance of Anioma Association’s special dance group. For more than 20 minutes, the Anioma dancers held the audience spellbound.

“It was fun and classy, a great night at a good time and location,” said Sunny Aikoriege of St. Paul.

In interviews with several members of the audience, a common point of agreement was the way Dr. Ogbuagu managed the fundraising part of the evening.

“To me, the chairman is a warrior,” said Ochuko Okitikpi, president of UPU Minnesota, “The way she handled the fundraiser buttressed my point. She went all the way to the floor to start identifying people and encouraging them to donate. That actually helped us in raising the amount we came up with,” Okitikpi added.

Okitikpi continued: “A typical chairman would sit there, wine and dine and do her own little token and walk away. Rather, she took over the responsibility of making sure we met our fundraising goals and even surpassed it.”

“I felt honored to be in the midst of people of great caliber,” Okitikpi said.

In his keynote address at the event, Professor Eric Arubayi, Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), called on members of UPU Minnesota and Deltans in diaspora to support education in Delta State. The Vice Chancellor commended UPU America (UPUA) for the annual scholarships it has been giving students at DELSU over the last several years.

Prof. Arubayi said UPU Minnesota’s concern for orphaned children in Delta State is laudable. “Despite the challenges we are dealing with at home, my wife (Prof. Diana Arubayi) and I decided to come because we share UPU Minnesota’s concerns for orphans,” Vice Chancellor Arubayi said.

The UPU Minnesota anniversary fundraising dinner drew personalities from Nigeria, from the US, and from the Twin Cities: Engr and Mrs. Peter Otomewo (Nigeria), Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Okugo (Nigeria), Deaconess Elizabeth Astagbede (Nigeria) Mr. Samuel Okwosa (Nigeria), Chief and Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Okagbare Dema (New York), Mr. and Mrs. Benard Okitikpi (Chicago), Mr. Tega Oloko (Ohio), Ms. Seline Shekoni (Missouri) , Mr. and Mrs. Dan Melin (Twin Cities), Mr. Timothy Adediran (Twin Cities), Dr. Fatima Lawson (Twin Cities), Dr. Richard Oni (Twin Cities), Dr. Susan Moore and Ms. Sharon Moore (Twin Cities), Mr. and Mrs. Michael Egi (Twin Cities), Ms. Queen Rynes (Twin Cities, among others.

The indefatigable Jude Onakpoma (a.k.a. Away-away) of New York was MC of the event.