History of ANPA (Southern California Chapter)
The narrative of the history of ANPA (Southern California Chapter) can be best done by one person, ANPA’s co-founder and first Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Iheanacho Emeruwa who originated from the chapter. The concept was modeled after established Medical Societies like the American Medical Association. These societies encouraged the formation of regional chapters which later became the backbones of the parent organization.
Southern California chapter was ANPA’s pioneer regional chapter which was initially led by Dr. Ola Olambiwonnu. The chapter became very active under the leadership of Dr. Popoola with annual Fundraisers and Galas attended by members of the Nigerian communities living in Southern California, our partner Hospital administrators, and celebrities who contributed their time and money. Unfortunately, the interest in the chapter waned for a few years until the Kpaduwas, Dr. Julius Kpaduwa and Dr. Stella Kpaduwa stepped up and kept the chapter from going under. They reorganized fundraisers, and galas to keep the chapter going again. Their efforts were followed by the contributions of the following succeeding chapter chairmen, Doctors Tunde Jinadu, Bambo Ojuri, John Dimowo, Sota Omoigui, and Stella Kpaduwa.
ANPA’s (Southern California chapter’s) history will not be complete without a full narrative by Dr. Iheanocho Emeruwa who wrote:
In August 1995, from the 11 to the 13, about 134 people registered for the First Annual Convention in Anaheim, sixty (60) physicians attended the first Business Meeting, before that date, and since then many things have happened that have brought us to where we are.
Before that Convention, we had to incorporate the organization, create bylaws, and perform many other functions that were necessary for the creation of this organization. Many individuals played crucial roles in the birth of this organization.
ANPA was incorporated on 7/28/1995, as a Delaware Corporation by Mr. Russell D. Murray, with Iheanocho Emerauwa, MD as the incorporator, Mr. Emeka Kalu Esq was the attorney who handled the incorporation on behalf of Dr Emeruwa.
The initial Bylaws were modeled after the ACP and ACOG bylaws and was compiled by me and reviewed by Dr. Jude Akubilo, Esq. Many of our founding members will remember the countless hours spent under the leadership of Dr. S.K Bosu reading, debating, and amending the initial Bylaws in Rye town NY.
Pre-Opening Activities
It is evident that the birth of the organization is not a one-day event. The Nigerians in the Diaspora, in the early 1990’s were in a state of flux because the leadership in Nigeria was foundering. The June 12 election had been annulled and Nigeria beginning face international criticism. In a dinner conversation at Dr. Ngozika Nwanneri‘s, I proposed the formation of an organization of Nigerian Physicians in the Diaspora to help us collectively address many issues that are of concern to us here in the Diaspora and to address Healthcare development issues in Nigeria. On returning from that trip, my wife and I began compiling a list of the Nigerian physicians we knew, with a view of proposing to them such an organization.
The first survey was sent to a list of 64 Nigerian physicians I generated with our immediate circle of contact, requesting that they share a survey document with their own contacts. That survey was written on 14, 1993. The response to the letter was very encouraging, but the only response received in writing was from Dr Popoola, who recommended a list of 9 physicians including Dr Salako to be contacted.
Fortuitously, I happened to have subleased part of my office to a young Nigeria pediatrician, Dr. Adeyinka Shoroye who was interested in creating a Directory of Nigerian Physicians in the United States, Dr. Shoroye had been the editor of his Medical School Students’ Magazine and was aware, somehow that AMA has a database of Physicians that include the Country of birth of the Physicians. This database thanks to Egondu Onyejekwe, PhD can be listed alphabetically, by regions or cities and by specialty. With this database, we were able to reach almost every Nigerian, born or trained physician in the USA and some in Canada and the Caribbean.
The formal announcement of the convention to the Southern California Community was made during a Chicago Alumni event at Dr. Popoola’s house. Our First Convention was sponsored by Diane Van Hoose, RN of the Health Education Innovation, Diane was introduced to us by multimedia specialist Oguchi H. Nkwocha, MD.
Conference Planning Committee & National Advisory Committee
When it became evident that there was interest in the concept of the Association of Nigerian physicians in the Americas, we created a committee across the generations of Nigerian Physicians to organize the First Convention. The six (6) members were Iheanacho Emeruwa (Chair), Olusegun Salako, Adeyinka Shoroye, Austin Iluore, Ivy Madu (Secretary) all of California, and Olawale O. Idewu of Keokuk, Iowa. Dr Idewu had tried previously to start a similar Organization, ANPA in the Chicago area but it did not continue.
We constituted an International Advisory Committee that included Dr Akinlolu Beckley of Newfoundland, Canada to assure our compatriots that this was a serious endeavor and to be guided by people of integrity.
1. Staff & Office
ANPA had no staff and Mrs, Magdalen Emeruwa shouldered the initial administrative support for ANPA. For example, the initial invitation letters (over 3,000 pieces) were prepared manually with our children and driven to Long Beach to Dr. Salako who offered to pay for the postage while I was in Nigeria. The desktop computer in our son, Obinna‘s was ANPA’s home office. All correspondence to ANPA from the inception including banking transactions was handled by Meg.
2. Other Contributions
It is important to acknowledge the role so many people played in the founding and the continuous growth of ANPA and that is one of the reasons I have been hesitant to write a history of ANPA. Of course, every President of ANPA has been acknowledged and recognized.
But I want to acknowledge a number of individuals who have done so much for this organization. I am indebted to all those who have served on our Board, especially Dr. Ngozika Nwanneri, Dr Ola Olambiwonnu, Dr. Ferdinand Ofodile, Adekunle Fajana, and Dapo Popoola, for their immense contribution to this Organization. Kunle Fajana and Oguchi Nkwocha were pioneers in IT and Audiovisuals for our Organization and the Conventions. Dr. Dapo Popoola was our lead MC and Fundraiser in the early days and was a pioneer in the growth of the Southern California Chapter finally, Prof Scott-Emuakpor has continued to be our CME Program Chair.
