t’s Just another day for an ordinary village boy

 Dollie Popman is an event savvy gentle man and has passion for the Disc Jockey. I met him during our university days in the University of Calabar, where I had the opportunity of playing a role in TALENTICA (Talents in Calabar) alongside KAODIMO OQUA of Rainbow Connexions and then later Miss Cross River beauty pageant. In him you will see the homeliness of his personality each time he is either organizing or co-organizing an event, then the Dexterity in his handling of the music machine at Asma Nite club at the paradise city Hotel.

  It was not because he was wayward or irresponsible, but the creative spirit of success was his driving force. Something inside him was nudging him forward despite the parental disapproval. He had to disobey his father to fulfill this passion. Most people who succeed in what they do are so because it comes from their hearts. When you put a piece of your heart in what you do, you become a success.

Dollie took the decision to be a DJ back in the days when being a DJ puts a societal blight on your personality and family. Hear him..“as a village boy and a secondary school student my dad shut down a party and chased me away. I was the "operator" (as local DJs were then called). Determined to make a mark, I stood my ground and went all the way to becoming the Resident DJ in top clubs; Asma Nite club in Paradise City Hotel, Metro Disco Palace at Metropolitan Hotel, now Transcorp Tuxedo Junction, Crystal Palace Studios all in Calabar, Cross River State. In Cross River Radio and later AKBC, the village boy ruled as top-notch host of several chart-topping music shows, hobnobbing with the high and mighty including the nation's biggest boys and girls! Then of course I paid school fees at University of calabar from my DJ fees.

In October 2011 while on DJ duties, I was appointed to my present Government House role, where I have served two governors, walked the red carpet and mingled with 8 Presidents and heads of governments, countless Governors and ex Governors, senators, ambassadors, ministers, power brokers, military high commanders, movie stars, A list celebrities, media gurus, business moguls, top dollar lawyers, high brow professionals and all. I've been to all the best countries of the 6 continents.

I have shared the same stage with 50 Cent and Ciara, performing live! Including all the A-list Naija musicians, I've jammed with DJ Trauma, DJ Whookid, P. Diddy & T - Pain just to mention but 4!

My dad and I became very close even as a mere DJ! He was proud of his village boy until we lost him 3 years ago. May his soul Rest in Peace. My 3 sons are kicking the game too - Clinton,13 plays the keyboard. Lionel,11 is a lead guitarist and Aniekpeno,9 is a drummer. They have a band, The Benjamin Crew.

My advice to people is “Pursue your passion. Do what you believe in. Do your thing. Forget haters, look forward for there's more in front than behind. Don't let no one stop you, but please go to school, it’s an interesting place. The world today is ruled by knowledge”.

Dollie is always giving multitude of thanks to God Almighty who has blessed him with talents & brought him this far.

 He said “Who am I! A mere village boy who became a top DJ and a Certified International Protocol Expert!

 For Dollie,this is just a pencil sketch of his journey so far. The sky is only the begining

 

Idah Club 6575, a social, non-partisan and elitist club with membership of intellectual like minds, is making arrangements to rebuild and remodel IDAH CLUB, a Multi-racial, Multinational and cosmopolitan club house situated in the ancient city of Idah, headquarters of the defunct Igala Native Authority, the current headquarters of Idah LGA, the traditional and ancestral home of the Igala people and the melting point of Igala civilization.

The chairman of the fund raising committee, Hon. Paul Ogwu Ukwenya, gave this indication in a chat with our correspondent recently. He enumerated other projects that the club is raising funds to implement such as the Establishment of Community Radio station, ICT/Vocational/Entrepreneurial center (including e-library) annual Educational Scholarship program, Annual Free Health care Intervention scheme, Sports Intervention, Promoting Cultural Heritage and Agricultural Intervention.

Hon Ukwenya said that the club has been very committed to fostering peace, development and wellbeing of the Igala people, specifically the Idah federal constituency through its various intervention projects since inception, and  is this time around taking those developmental efforts to the next level by opening its doors to corporate organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, high net-worth/ public spirited individuals and philanthropists to join the club in its different development projects aimed at improving  the lot and wellbeing  of the people and ultimately engender development.

With planning in top gear, the all-important Fund raising Dinner is expected to hold on the 6^th of December 2021 at the Banquet hall of Chida International Hotel, Jabi Abuja at 4pm prompt.

The Club is aiming to raise the sum of 500 million Naira (N500,000,000.00) to be spread among the various projects being envisioned.  

According to Hon Ukwenya, “The various Projects put together are meant for those who have the heart to pull resources together for common wellbeing”.

One of the projects is the Re-modeling of Idah Club to a modern befitting state of the art, Avant garde edifice meant to replicate the likes of Ikoyi club and others.  “Idah Club is a legacy bequeathed to us by the founding Fathers and we will not let their dream die but rather, we are taking it to the next level from where they stopped”. The new complex, according to him, will include a Club House, a 30 Room Lodging facility, a swimming Pool, a Banquet Hall, a Sports center which includes a Gym/ Fitness Center, an Indoor sports Hall (Table Tennis, Snooker, Chess, Draught etc) a Lawn tennis court, Hand ball, Basketball/Volleyball court, Squash court etc.

He said the project when completed will not only restore the Cosmopolitan glory of the city of Idah, but also engender Igala tourism development and give Igala land a global outlook, showcasing the Igala people as a super race.

He decried the non-availability of a standard lodging facility in the ancient city of Idah, a cultural and tourism nerve center and home of the Igala people and emphasized the misnomer as one of the gaps to be filed by the project.   He therefore called on all well-meaning persons of Igala extraction both at home and in the Diaspora, the friends and well-wishers of the club, the political class, the elite and business community, Cultural and Socio-political Organizations, Non-Governmental organizations, donor agencies, to rise up and join others in pooling resources together to make this project a reality.

Idah club 6575 was established on the 31st October, 2018 by Chief Samuel Ogali, the founder and Current president, the Maiden Reunion was held on the 26th December, 2018 at Igalamela/odolu Guest Inn.

During deliberation at the reunion, opinion was raised on the name and it was unanimously agreed that the body be known, called and addressed as Idah Club 6575.

The club has its motto as “Udama, Uredo Kpai Unyogba”. It is a social, non-partisan club with membership drawn from  those  born in the local Government areas of the Idah Federal Constituency, namely Idah, Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu and Ibaji, between 1965-1975. A world class club with membership spread across major cities in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

The Club parades a retinue of High net-worth personalities of famed Corporate and Social standing on its membership, on the executive committee headed by the President, Chief Samuel Ogali, and on its Board of Trustees, under the chairmanship of Chief Charles-Lwanga Okwoli.

The main purpose of the club is to foster unity, peace and development in Idah and also to synergize, collaborate and partner with Government, private institutions and individuals to bring the much needed socio-economic development through community service to Idah and Igala land in general.

 

In terms of the Club’s achievements include but not limited to the following; The Club has been able to come out firm on Peace Advocacy, during the last general election in April, 2019, IC6575 Peace Advocacy posters were pasted everywhere in Idah. Similarly, during the Kogi State gubernatorial election in November, 2019, the Club’s Peace Advocacy messages were on Amikad Bill Boards in the heart of Lokoja and Anyigba respectively, and the posters were also everywhere in Idah.

27^th December, 2019, on the 27th to be precise, the Club’s Medical Team, embarked on Free Medical Outreach and it was a huge success.

Also The Club’s Education Committee went to the field and registered 50 indigent students for 2020 JAMB, it has also selected Ten (10) Secondary Schools in Idah. The eight secondary schools’ principals will select 5 each of indigent but brilliant students annually for the Club to get them registered.

In the area of security, the Club has been  dialoguing with Nigerian Police on how to find a lasting solution to social vices like; Thuggery, Armed robbery, Kidnapping, Juvenile delinquency, cultism etc. The Club has in its kitty, blueprints of projects to be executed on short term, Medium term and Long term basis.

No doubt, Members of Idah Club 6575 are determined to change the ugly narratives in the ancient city of Idah through collective and deliberate efforts towards restoring the lost glory of the ancient City.