- Phone : 1 (888) 504 SOBA (7622)
- Email : info@sobamerica.org
Contact
- Hotline 1 (888) 504 SOBA (7622)
- SOBA America 501 White Tail Terrace Waxhaw, NC 28173
The Western region is one of the largest chapters as it encompasses many states like Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington.
Sobans residing in Arizona were under the Western region with initially five members. After hosting a mini convention in 2008 and a national convention in 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, the Western region gradually lost momentum and eventually dwindled in its activities.
Soba Arizona finally emerged 2017 after realizing that the Grand Canyon State experienced a great influx of Sobans. We can now boast of young and vibrant chapter with nearly 19 active members from all works of life, young and elderly Sobans, ranging from students to business professionals. Soba Arizona was incorporated as a 501(C) in 2019. Most of our members reside in the state of Arizona while others reside out of state like in California and Washington.
Soba Arizona is once more excited to host the Soba mini convention in November,2019. The city of Phoenix is the destination for Soban and Sobanese delegates planning to attend the mini convention from November 15-17th, 2019. Mini convention planning has been robust.
Our mission
To promote solidarity and brotherhood amongst Sobans residing in the Grand Canyon State and affiliated member states
To create and foster an atmosphere where Sobans can network locally and worldwide
To explore ways and sustainable means of supporting our Alma matter and St. Joseph’s college
To be of great assistance to our local community
To remain torch bearers of Sasse college in the Grand Canyon state of Arizona
Activities
‘Born house’- every Soban family that is blessed with the birth of a newborn is visited with a special package contributed by members
‘Death Benefit’- every member is required to contribute a minimum of $50.00 towards the death benefit and the check is handed to a family member of the bereaved
Community activities
Assist in food banks, and other charitable programs within the community
Officers
President Sona Bokossah
Vice President Dr. Sone Metuge
Treasurer PK Kontchou
Financial Sec Dr. Anu Tazi
Chief Whip/Senior Adviser Fidelis Nkeze
The Early Stages: As the number of SOBANS in the Carolinas blossomed, it became increasingly evident that a SOBA America chapter was needed. Some members had maintained their affiliations in other SOBAN chapters where they lived prior to moving to the Carolinas. The talk of a potential chapter finally became reality when the then SOBA America Vice –President, Dr. Bertrand Fote who lives in the Charlotte area, rallied the “troops” and held a first meeting in July 2015.
Geography: SOBA Carolinas includes SOBANS residing in North and South Carolina. Its current membership of 18 spans four main geographic regions – The Charlotte area which has a majority of its members, The Raleigh/Durham area which is a close second, the Fayetteville area and the Charleston area. As the chapter grows, these geographic regions will change.
The main reason for dividing the chapter into geographic regions is to allow for some fairness in its operations, particularly meetings. Face-to-face meetings are rotated within the different geographic regions.
Vision: Our vision is to become the strongest and most vibrant chapter of SOBA America. We seek to promote the strong SOBAN values that we learned in our days in Sasse, such as
Past President: Dr. Bertrand Fote (2015-2019)
Current Leadership:
President (CEO): Dr. Ngale Ndiva Mongoh
Treasurer (CFO): Dr. Andu Agbor
Secretary(COO): Tom Ashu
Upcoming Events: SOBA Carolinas is proud to host the 2021 SOBA America National Convention in Charlotte, NC from May 28th to 30th, 2021. Plans are already underway for a memorable event. Details to follow.
SOBA Dallas was founded in early 1995 as one of the first five chapters of SOBA America. Its pioneer president was Soban Cornelius Ndemba. After hosting the National Convention of May 1998, SOBA Dallas gradually lost momentum and eventually faded. In late 2005, a core group of Sobans living in the DFW metroplex led by Dr. Henry Simo, decided to re-launch SOBA Dallas. Some of these Sobans were Edwin~Daniel Ndoko, Dr. Francis Njie, Dr. Henry Njie, Mr. Sona Elonge, and Mr. Frederick Itoe.
Ever since, SOBA Dallas has grown from its original seven members to over twenty-three active members. SOBA Dallas eventually hosted the National convention in May 2011 and a Mini-Convention in November 2013. In many ways SOBA Dallas has reinvented and established itself as one of the most dynamic, innovative and pacesetting chapters of SOBA America over the past five years.
SOBA Dallas has successfully attracted and retained the attendance of Sobans from before 1970 to those who graduated within the last 10 years ago. Bridging the gap between the old and the young is not just a slogan but a reality in Dallas. We have members as young as 23 years old of age and of ages across the spectrum. We pride ourselves in locating new Sobans who move into town and welcoming them to our meetings.
SOBA Dallas has forged strong relationships and collaboration with our local community as well as other alumni associations.
Our meetings are held once every month on the Sunday before the last Sunday of the month at 5pm. We host meetings on a rotating calendar where meeting dates for the next two years are chosen in a random draw (see pics).
Family Christmas party (love fest): SOBA Dallas adopted a version of a love fest December party from a sister chapter. It has been going on since 2012. SOBA Dallas meets each December and Sobans give gifts to their spouses or significant others. Each Soban has to take turns talking about their wife, appreciating her and giving her a surprise gift. This is followed by an all-night party. Our guests and regular donors are also part of the events. (See pictures of last event)
Bi-annual family barbecue: SOBA Dallas members, their spouses, relatives, kids and close friends get together twice a year for a barbecue. This was instituted so that families could get to know each other better. Kids, spouses and significant others get to meet and interact. This has helped built a strong bond among all our families, making us all one big strong family. (see pics)
“Born House” (Child Birth): SOBA Dallas visits each Soban who is blessed with a newly born. We do donations and gifts per our bylaws. A check is issued by SOBA Dallas to the Sobanese of the house.
Death Benefits: We offer local death benefits to Sobans and their family members. In the event of a loss covered by our bylaws, each member pays a minimum of a 100$ towards the death benefits fund. A check is issued to the family at the end of the drive.
Enrichment: We have a segment of each meeting dedicated to members or guest doing a presentation on issues, which could be beneficial to the group. Some past topics have included tax presentations, insurance presentations, discounted products in the market and sales of a wide range of equipment.
Community Service: Volunteering time and money to serve our local community in different capacities. We offered a Cameroonian lady a motorized wheel chair worth 5000$(five thousand US Dollars). This lady had no family to assist her in the US and had just arrived the US last year (2014) before loosing her mobility. A check of $200.00(two hundred dollars) was also issued. Some of our members volunteered time to assist her with therapy.
Lifetime Achievement award- Pa Ngando: Pa Ngando was honored with a lifetime achievement award for over 20 years of service to S.J.C Sasse and made an honorary chair of SOBA Dallas for life during the 2011 National Convention in Dallas (see pics).
Sobanese of the year award: Any Sobanese(s) who has/have gone out of their way over the year to exemplify the best of a Sobanese spirit is/are recognized and given a gift paid for by SOBA Dallas. This helps recognize some of our most unsung heroes, our spouses or significant others (See picture of our past recipients).
Sports equipment gift to SJC: SOBA Dallas as a chapter works to give back to SJC Sasse. We awarded a sports gift package to SJC worth about 2800$. The package consisted of soccer jerseys, balls, gloves and other sports attires with SJC logos and SOBA Dallas logos. This was handed to S.J.C in a ceremony on campus by Mola Edwin Ndoko to Father Peter Nouck (See pics/video).
Hosted Bishop of Buea: During the last visit of the proprietor of SJC Sasse, Bishop Immanuel Bushu, SOBA Dallas made sure that His Lordship had the best of times in Dallas. We picked him (plus Fr Cajetan) up at the airport, helped coordinate all his activities including his meetings with community members, celebration of mass, organization of a sumptuous dinner in his honor etc. At the end of his trip, we safely dropped him off at the bus terminal for his trip to Houston (see pics).
Hosted Bishop Nkea: We had lunch hosted by Soban Tony Atabong for the Bishop at his beautiful residence. He granted us a lengthy audience and gave us an inside into the difficulties his diocese faces in running schools.
SOBA Dallas 2012 Suits project: SOBA Dallas embarked on a suits project to ensure that all its members had SOBA Dallas suits with our logo. By December 2012, this vision became a reality. SOBA Dallas became the first chapter to provide SOBA suits to all its 16 active members. SOBA Dallas is the only chapter where all its 18 members ordered the new SOBA America suits (See pic).
SOBA Dallas Polo shirts: With the difficulty of appearing at all events in SOBA Dallas suits, SOBA Dallas opted for Polo shirts for less formal events. These shirts were evident at the 2014 convention deliberations in Minnesota. All SOBA Dallas members appeared dressed in same polo shirts with SOBA and SOBA Dallas logos. It was a first at a national convention (see pics).
Group investment project: SOBA Dallas is working as a social group to carry out a joint investment Clinic project by interested members in Cameroon. It has been ongoing for the past year. Sobans don’t need to get together only for Sasse, but should work together and help each other better their lives.
1998 National Convention: Dallas was the proud host of the 1998 Convention which helped cement the seeds of the new chapter in Dallas. During that memorable event, one of the main organizers, Grand Joe Mahop, was blessed with a baby on the same day the convention started. We could not have had more drama in our preparation. However, other Sobans and visiting Sobans stepped in to make it a memorable convention.
2011 National Convention: This was an election year convention. There was a lot of lobbying and campaigning. We had a strong delegation from Atlanta and Houston vying for SOBA America’s leadership. At the end of day, it all culminated in the Election of president Beltus Ntopi as the president of SOBA America. This convention was hosted at a single location, Blue Cypress Hotel. Our deliberations, gala and accommodation were all in the same venue. It was one convention for the ages. Our guest of honor Pa Ngando received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding service and dedication to S.J.C Sasse. He was made an Honorary Chair for life of SOBA Dallas (see pics).
2013 Mini Convention: Dallas hosted the most attended Mini Convention in SOBA America’s 25-year history. There were more than 45 visiting Sobans in attendance. The 2013 mini convention raised a net profit of over $8000 (eight thousand dollars). It was a great show! Most Sobans who attended it would tell you it was not different from a national convention. SOBA Dallas demonstrated how mini conventions can be used as an asset by different chapters (see pics).
SOBA Dallas is consistently represented by an average of ten or more members at all national and mini conventions over the past 4 years.
Soba Georgia – The Mother of Soba-America (Sasse Alumni in the USA)
Although graduates from St. Joseph’s College Sasse have been traveling the world since 1939, it was not until the year 1990 A.D. that a group of Sobans residing in the USA decided to create an alumni association. This camaraderie of fine young men led by the indefatigable Quintus Eno all lived in the great State of Georgia. That decision be them to start a Soba chapter in North America marked the birth of this distinguished alumni network in these parts of the world. Unbeknownst to them at that time, their efforts unleashed a momentum which has today snowballed into the most vibrant of African alumni networks in the world.
Soba Georgia has not merely existed for the past twenty-five years but it has occupied a central place in the hearts and minds of Sobans all over the world. Soba-Georgia has hosted many of the previous conventions and meetings of all Sobans in North America. It was in Soba-Georgia that some of the most important decisions were made such as the computerization of Sasse College, the water project and the supply of sports equipment among others. There is therefore no doubt that Sobans in Georgia have exhibited great leadership in the organization and used their position to make a difference in the lives of students who are currently attending the college. The most recently retired Soba-America president Mr. Beltus Ntopi who served two terms was previously the chapter president of Soba Georgia.
As the oldest chapter of all Soba-America chapters in North America, Soba-Georgia has also demonstrated Quaerens (charity) towards other Sobans. Regularly Sobans in the Georgia area experience significant family events such as marriages, births and workplace promotions. During such circumstances, Sobans in Georgia have always made donations and been physically present to mark such memorable moments. But the charity and largesse of Sobans in Georgia extend beyond the borders of this state. Georgia Sobans provide support by contributing financially and otherwise to others who are bereaved. In fact, Soban medical doctors and attorneys in Georgia have conducted pro bono clinics on varying topics such as durable power of attorney, wills, estate planning, fitness and healthy lifestyle choices.
The impact of Soba-Georgia in the local community has been felt in many areas. Sobans annually volunteer their services with MedShare a non-profit entity which sends medical supplies to countries in the global south. Sobans in Georgia have always provided financial donations to the annual Cameroonian cultural and park events. Sobans attend and support fundraising efforts by other sister institutions and other associations.
EVENTS:
In May 2017 Sobans returned to the mother chapter for a groundbreaking convention. It was a convention that has been branded the best convention ever, breaking all records set before in all categories.
Every Christmas Eve for the past 25 years, Sobans in Georgia have hosted an annual gala to entertain and support their alma mater. Christmas Eve in Georgia is unanimously known as SOBA day.
Membership:
The membership of Soba-Georgia today stands at roughly 50 with over 25 active members. We host by-monthly meetings. Our Sobanese have joined their husbands by creating a support group to execute the mission of Sobans. They hold their meetings in a separate room on our meeting days.
Executive of Soba-Georgia 2017-2019
1. President: Mr. Victor Tanteh
2. Vice President: Mr. Kevin Takang
3. Secretary General: Mr. Jude Nkeng
4. Treasurer: Mr. Ewongkem Fonkeng
5. Financial Secretary: Mr. Alain Likine
6. Publicity Secretary: Mr. Scott Nyambi
7. Publicity Secretary: Mr. Renzo Agbor
SOBA Houston is one of the cornerstone chapters of SOBA America with two of the founding fathers as its members: Dr. Nicholas Enow, and Mr. Dan Mofor. We are also proud to be hosting our SOBAN brothers during the 2016 SOBA National Convention.
Since the beginning, SOBA Houston has been a solid contributor to all things SOBA. For the past few years, we have been steadily growing our membership and we are recognized as one of the elite organizations both in Houston and SOBA America.
Our chapter includes SOBANS from the Houston, Texas Metro area, and its surroundings. Houston, the fourth largest city in the USA, is home to many ex-Sasse students and is renowned for its world famous barbecue and Southern hospitality.
Our vision is to keep growing our membership and to continue to provide SOBA Houston & SOBA USA with the financial resources and the talent to evolve to the next level. Some of the values that we hold dear are:
SOBA Houston is hosting the 2016 SOBA National Convention. After the first class reception that SOBANS received during the last convention in Montreal, Canada, we realize that the bar has been set very high, but we are confident that we can meet your expectations. SOBA Houston would like to welcome each and every SOBAN to Houston for a great time on Memorial Day Weekend 2016.
SOBA MAL is primarily a chapter for those who are located in areas that do not have already have a SOBA Chapter. The primary goal of SOBAMAL is to provide a platform for fellowships and fraternizing for all SOBANs in the North America who are unable to be part of a local chapter.
STILL STANDING AND GROWING STRONGER
Not so long ago, most Cameroonians like other Africans who came to the US had a transient mentality. Most of them were students. They came here with the sole purpose of getting their education and returning home to build their country. Through the years many factors have come into play to alter that trend, many Cameroonians are immigrating to the US to stay! We will not do an exposition here on why and how those factors came into play for fear of falling into any post hoc, ergo propter hoc or cum hoc, ego propter hoc arguments.
Whatever the case, Minnesota has benefited from this trend, currently over 4,000 Cameroonians have found abode within its borders. If you ask them why they chose this state to call home, be it ephemeral or permanent, you will have a potpourri of reasons. Family, friends, marriage, education, jobs, only to name a few and they would always end up by saying ” I no know weti I di do for here, dis place too cold, I di cam comot for here”. But they hardly ever leave! There must be something special about the land of 10,000 lakes, the land of the most shopping malls, the land of the biggest mall in US (Mall of America), the land of one of the best education systems in the US (always in the top 5 in SAT and top 10 in ACT scores for high school students), the land of one of the cleanest states in the US, the land of one with the lowest unemployment rate (3.7%) in the country and yes the land with one of the coldest winters!
Sobans have not been “immuned” to this trend and have also not been able to escape from the Minnesota “web”. Through the years our numbers have kept on increasing, some coming fresh from home, some transplanted from other states and some have just been here forever!! Different reasons brought them to Minnesota but Sobanly brotherhood brought them together to form Soba Minnesota. Soba Minnesota, perhaps like most other Chapters is an eclectic bunch, with members in its fold who went to Sasse during different decades, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and even 21st century! Check us out below.
Well now you know, COME ON THEN!!
A BRIEF HISTORY ON THE CREATION OF SOBA CANADA:
Permit us to quote the first elected President of Soba Canada, Rev. Daniel Mulema, class of 1971.
“In 1990, when we first received invitation to participate at a SOBA USA convention in Atlanta, we had only four Soban’s in Montreal, one in Ottawa and a few others in Toronto. Daunting as the task may have been, those four pioneers in Montreal began talking about creating a Chapter to network and maintain contacts with our brothers down-south. Those were the days before full-fledge internet access, and so the “NetWorker” was created in 1992, championed by Dr. E. Mondoa, as an organ to facilitate networking among Sobans in North America. These were exciting times when one could go through the directory with a fine tooth comb searching for people you had not seen for ages. Needless to say, as a networking tool we became “hooked” and the airwaves were filled with nostalgic exuberance, when you called up someone and chat for hours unending. We extend thanks to pioneer presidents, Soban Quintus Enow and Soban Dr. Nick Enow, (who were in office under Soba –USA), as they in their own way helped steering the ship onward.
So it was that, in 1993 after our numbers slowly mushroomed to eight in Montreal, SOBA Canada was born and registered as a Non-Profit Organization. In 1994 we made our first appearance at the convention in Boston, and protested the idea of SOBA-USA, and argued for a more inclusive, Soba North America, and after some deliberations it was agreed to have the umbrella organization renamed as SOBA America. I am not sure in which of the following conventions this was formalized, because the 1995 Convention in Minnesota still went under the title SOBA-USA. After 2000, our numbers dwindled back to four in Montreal and things seemed to slow down once again, but here you are in 2015 not only as participants but the host of the 25th anniversary of Soba America”
SOBA Montreal was relaunched in September of 2012 and re-registered as SOBA MONTREAL with the Montreal City Council in 2013. This change had be effected to further consolidate our commitment to each other. It has been the hope that by now other Sobans in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa) would have come together under one umbrella organisation. But this has not been the case. Hence, the need for a more unifying and vibrant organisation has been necessitated. More so, the creation of Soba Montreal will give further impetus to our activities and the much deserved recognition of the immediate community we serve. So far we have supported more than 10 associations in cash or in kind for one activity or another. Last month we launched a second fund drive to raise funds to support some of our projects, it was a success. . The result of this as we have seen today was the launching of Soba Ontario last March 2015 making Toronto the second Soba chapter within Canada. In attendance was the President of Soba Montreal with a 7 man delegation to Toronto.
The Chapter in 2012 had 9 members but today we are proud of 20 members, 14 of which are active members. The hosting of the 2015 convention has seen our numbers increased tremendously with the addition of 5 new sobans. We are proud of having a vibrant chapter of both the old and the young as far back as class of 1971 (Dr Otto Ikome) and class of 1975 (Chairman Paul Ayah and DR. Fossungu Peter)
In 2012 the re-lunch was championed by Dr. Ibeagha Aloys as President with a 4 man administration that won the confidence of the members and were re-elected in 2013 for a second term that just ended August 2015
Our meetings take place every third Saturday of the month. At the beginning each member is assigned a particular month to host during the year on a rotating basis. We also have 3 special meetings yearly during summer months where we attend with our families so we have the opportunity for our spouses and children to meet, interact, share and socialize with the entire Soban family.
For each meeting we have a compulsory monthly contribution of $ 15.00 per member, $10.00 dollar dues and $ 5.00 for entertainment.
At the end of each year we have a December love feast where we meet again with our families for Christmas and there is a compulsory exchange of gift for the spouses. With regards to gifts for the soban children during Christmas, our children have been beneficiary of Christmas gifts for the past three years from Generation foundations. A Montreal based non-profit organization that has been helping us in keeping our kids happy with gifts during Christmas period
Our bylaws have been crafted to provide certain assistance to members both in joyful times and in difficult circumstances. By this any new child born into the Soban family, members contribute $25.00 per head of which $ 250.00 is handed to the family as baby presentation token, and the balance goes into the floating fund. This is a onetime event only to your first child once you become a member of soba Montreal. The current year has seen the birth of just 1 new soban Child to the family of Soban Alexis Ejelle Ndille.
On the Contrary in times of sadness, death of a parent, each member contributes $ 50.00 per head as support to the bereaved. Recently we had two deaths, parents of Soban Ikome Otto, Njomo Julius the former vice president and recently the father of our newly elected VP Albert Sekoh
On a final note we have started a special campaign to convince members of the need to register with the National (Soba America). So far the response is welcoming. In 2014 we had a total of 11 registered members with the national.
The year 2015 has been a very successful year to our chapter’s history with the hosting of the soba America convention 2015 in Montreal as well as the celebration of the 25 years of existence of Soba America.
Here is the current executive team:
President: Albert Sekoh
Vice President: Paul Atemkeng Djeudo
Secretary General: Guy Monkam
Treasurer: John Ediebah
Financial Secretary: Harrison Ngayap Ajong
Organizing Secretary: Rene Ategwah
Soba Montreal as we speak is a household name within Canada and within Montreal and its environs, since its relaunch in 2012 we have been cooperating with sister associations in Montreal that carry our fund raising efforts to run projects back home. Cultural groups such as, LECDA, MOMO Elites of Montreal, Kupemuanenguba Fraternity, Manyu Elite Association of Montreal, Good will Association of Montreal, Ndakongnui etc. are all beneficiaries of Soba Montreal donations every year toward projects funded back home by these associations. In 2013 Soba Montreal also donated gifts in Kind worth $300.00 to the Bulu Center for the blind in Buea, Cameroon. As a result of our community involvement Soba Montreal on the other hand gain from the support and participation of these groups in soba affairs, the height of which was seen during the hosting of the last Soba America Convention in Montreal May 2015.
Stay tuned for what the new administration has to offer.
For more information on Soba Montreal visit our website at http://www.sobamontreal.org
SOBA New England is one of the pioneer chapters that played a vital role in the formation of SOBA USA which is today known as SOBA AMERICA. Our goal is to bring our brothers together to raise the flag of our Alma Mata, as well as to advance the frontier of St Joseph’s College Sasse. We are all committed in making our Alma Mata even better by supporting and delivering services that will enhance the growth and development of Sasse, as well as to foster Peace, Unity, and Progress amongst all SOBANS. That is what we stand for, as we aspire to be one of the best chapters in our union.
Our mission as a Chapter is to promote academic, social and cultural atmosphere amongst sobans, foster unity and brotherliness amongst ourselves. We aim to cooperate with other organizations, civic groups and fraternities in matters of common interest-organizational, cultural or socially to maintain our reputation and integrity, but respecting diversity.
New England is in the Northeastern region of the United States, which comprises six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Our founders, crafted this wide area to make it possible for all sobans who lived in the North East, to commune as one and share in our common heritage.
Though our chapter covers this wide area, most of our members live in the state of Massachusetts, in bordering towns to our main city, and capital Boston. These towns include, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, and Fitchburg, to mention a few.
Our numbers have been fluctuating in the past years, but we are strong and indivisible. As of now, we have twenty active members, of which seven of them are president club members. We hope to increase our membership as new members have started knocking at our doors lately.
As per our bye-laws, New England Chapter meets once a month, on the last Sunday of every month. During these meetings, discussions are centered on matters related to St. Joseph’s College Sasse, our New England members, as well as other civic groups that are affiliated to us in one way or the other.
To foster our union and families, we have a family come together every August in which families come together to socialize and know one another better for posterity. We also have a traditional end of year party at the end of every year in which SOBAN friends, and well-wishers come together to usher in the New Year.
As a close knit chapter, to enforce unity among members, we have benefits incase there is a birth, graduation, moving out of state or a death in a family. A financial donation is made to that effect either from our coffers or from members to support that family. In other cases that need some support, a fund drive is held to that effect.
As a mother chapter, SOBA New England is striving to improve the quality of life in St Joseph’s College Sasse, by increasing the efficiency of existing structures, as well as promoting individual student’s excellence. Two years ago, Soba New England donated a projector/screen to Sasse to facilitate the teaching and learning process of our brothers and sons back in Sasse College. We are presently looking for avenues to improve the quality of life of students in Sasse. Thanks to some of our New England members who have sponsored projects in Sasse to promote academic excellence. For now, this is what SOBA New England is working on, as we look forward to new projects in future.
By attending Saint Joseph’s College Sasse, we, Sobans in Oklahoma State, like the Negro referenced in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech signed a promissory note to which we were to be heirs and collective decided to cash in on this heritage in May 2017 by formally creating a chapter in Oklahoma State. Soba president Frederick Itoe visited Oklahoma frequently to make sure that this dream attainable. We started with just six members but today membership has quadrupled and we have twenty six active members looking to cash in on their Sasse heritage.
What Heritage were we really hoping to cash in on? Were we not already the byproducts of “sasseism” the tutelage in Sasse through which we had become the men we are today? Had we not arrived? Reminded by the words of our Lord Jesus in Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” We have to give back; give to one another, give to our families, give to our communities, give to Soba, give to Sasse.
Soba Oklahoma being a registered for profit association with the Secretary of State of the State of Oklahoma, our goal now is to formally introduce Soba Oklahoma to Oklahoma State and to the world at large to show case the principles that molded our lives in Sasse “faith Seeking understanding” and how by continuing to abide by these principles we are justly being rewarded. As a growing chapter we would like to invite Sobans all over the US to come and join us celebrate the creation of our chapter in Saturday the 4th of August of this year. We are doing it the Soban way; we have an exquisite venue, have partnered with a few hotels in Oklahoma City to accommodate Sobans and our guest from far and wide. mens sana in corpore sano ( a healthy mind in a healthy body) we have made arrangements with a local soccer team and scheduled a game that weekend, all sobans will be welcome to partake in the game. We shall invite selected major associations in Oklahoma City and hope to have a very successful launching event.
As Saint Irenaeus himself put it gloria Dei est vivens homo (the glory of God is man fully alive). We all need as Sobans to live to our true potential asking ourselves if we have realized the purpose for which we were sent to this earth. I believe that by coming together under this chapter in Oklahoma we are on course to being fully alive especially if we are generous; help out the weak amongst us, create opportunity for others, be gracious and show gratitude for what we have.
I am happy to serve Sobans in my capacity as the pioneer president and even though our challenges may seem new, even though our efforts may seem new, even though we may feel that we cannot overcome, we shall use those principles that have brought us this far; hard work, love for thy neighbor, perseverance, and above all, trust in the Lord for unlike the negro spiritual who shouted; “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!” ours is an endless journey!
Clinton Egbemba
Soba Oklahoma President
Founded in 2011, Soba Tristate is one of the most unique chapters in the Soba America family in the United States.
After an absence of over 25 years of any structured Soban representation in these regions of the US and Canada, resident Sobans of these regions brainstormed at length and finally agreed to partner together to form what is today called Soba Tristate.
Like any new structured organization it faced and dealt with its own problems of self-consolidation, sustainability and stability.
Our uniqueness is also evidenced by the fact that our wives (sobaneses) play active roles in our activities and chapter meetings. They are active members of the chapter, attend our regular meetings and do frequently provide positive feedback as needed.
Although the dynamics appeared quite challenging in the beginning because of the members residing in different states, it was agreed upon to have conference calls and quarterly meetings and review the possibility of increasing the frequency of meetings as needed with the growth and stability of the chapter.
The chapter originally was formed with a narrow active membership of 5 during the first year and at present membership stands at 17.
Goals: The original goal was to foster brotherhood and unity amongst members that reside in these regions. It was a loose and non-structured body with a fluid concept, no by-laws, no constitution. Subsequently the organization, after self- examination reached out to the then national President of Soba America Mr. Beltus Ntopi who visited and baptized it as a full and active Chapter of Soba America.
President: Emmanuel Vekima
Vice President: Alphonse Ekole
Treasurer: Victor Mensah
Secretary: Julius Wakam
Public Relations Officer: Francis Orume
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