INDIAN PROFESSIONALS FORUM

CONSTITUTION

 

 

 

CONCEPT

 

The Indian Professionals Forum (IPF) will operate as an informal body.   Subject   to   the   degree   of   interest   generated   and   the membership obtained, it may decide at a later date, to incorporate itself as an association, or other such formal entity

 

Membership of the Forum will be open to Professionals of Indian origin, resident in Nigeria, as per eligibility criteria defined later in this document.  The  Forum  will  be  based  in  Lagos,  and  will  create Regional Chapters from time to time, as the need arises.

 

MISSION

 

1. To project a positive image of the Indian Community in Nigeria.

The Forum will achieve this by:

 

a)      Projecting         and       highlighting     the        many   important contributions made by Indian Professionals in Nigeria.

b)      Projecting a clear perspective of India, its achievements, successes, potential and stature - and the relevance of this to Nigeria.

 

2. To encourage more frequent business and social links between opinion makers in Nigeria and Indian Professionals.

 

3.  To emphasize the professionalism of the average Indian Expatriate working in Nigeria.

 

STEPS TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION

 

Some of the important steps which Forum will consider to achieve it's stated mission, are as follows:

 

a)      Establish a Secretariat.

b)      Maintain databases.

c)      Publish a news letter.

d)      Encourage Nigerian Professionals to travel to India to meet representatives of appropriate Indian businesses and Institutions.

e)      Interact with, and encourage visits from, other appropriate Indian bodies.

f)       Interact with appropriate Nigerian Professional Bodies.

g)      Maintain close contacts with Nigerian media practitioners

 

 

STRUCTURE OF THE FORUM

 

The Forum will consist of the following constituents:

-             Chief Patron

-             Patrons

-             Executive Committee

-             General Body of Members

 

 

1.  CHIEF PATRON:

The  High  Commission  of  India  to  Nigeria  will  be  the  Chief Patron of the Forum.

 

2.  PATRONS:

The Forum will invite prominent individuals in the Indian Business Community to become Patrons of the Forum. The number of Patrons shall not exceed 25. The selection of Patrons will be done by the Chief Patron through recommendation by the Executive Committee

 

3.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

This will consist of Management Committee, comprising of 8 elected office bearers, 13 Normal Elected Executive Committee Members and 2 Nominated members as below

 

Ř  Elected Management Committee (Office Bearers elected by General members) – 8 Positions as below

 

·       One President

·       Three Vice Presidents

·       One General Secretary

·       One Joint Secretary

·       One Treasurer

·       One Membership Secretary

 

Rules for appointment by way of election for office bearer position

·       For the position of President, a minimum experience of 2 immediate preceding years in Management Committee (as office bearers) is necessary

·       For Office Bearers Position, a minimum experience of two immediately preceding year in Executive Committee (Whether in another office bearer position or as normal executive committee member) is necessary.

·       Office Bearer shall be elected for a term of one year and can be re-elected for the same position for another year.

·       No Office Bearer shall hold the same position for more than 2 years.

·       The person being elected should not be in arrears of membership fees.

 

Ř  Normal Executive Committee Member (Elected by General Members) 13 Positions

 

Rules for appointment by way of election for Normal Executive Committee Members

·       For Normal Executive Committee Member, the person should have a paid active general membership for a tenor of minimum 2 years.

·       A Normal Executive Committee Member shall be elected for a tenor of one year with eligibility to be re-elected for a tenor of 2 more years.

·       No Executive Committee Member shall hold the position for more than 3 years.

·       After continuous 3 years of holding the position as Normal Executive Committee member, the person shall need to take a gap of a minimum of 2 years.

·       No Person can remain in committee for a tenor more than 10 years. After completion of total 10 years the person will need to take a gap of minimum 2 years

·       For the purpose of rule of maximum 10 years, the holding period of Normal Executive Committee plus any office bearer position shall be combined.

 

Ř  Nominated Executive Committee Members (Selected by Executive Committee) 2 Positions

Rules for appointment of Nominated Executive Committee

·       The Elected Executive Committee can appoint any 2 members from General Members based on merit

·       The Rule of minimum 2 years active General Membership shall not be applicable for the Nominated Members

 

 

Other Rules for Overall Executive Committee

a)      In the event of any vacancy arising from resignation or otherwise of any office bearer, the Committee may elect one member of the Executive Committee to fill the vacancy, till the next Annual General Meeting.

 

b)      In the event of non - availability of the required number of candidates for election to the Executive Committee, The President, in consultation with other elected members of the Executive Committee may, co-opt member(s) from the General Body of the Forum.

 

c)      The immediate Past President shall be an invited member of the Executive Committee.

 

d)      After the formation of the Committee, according to selection process defined later, the members will organize themselves into various Sub-Committees to look after specific responsibilities.

 

4.  GENERAL BODY:

This will consist of members, without a limit on numbers. Membership will be available to all eligible Indian Professionals, Resident in Nigeria.

 

 

ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

 

The following eligibility criteria will apply for the grant of membership:

 

a. Resident in Nigeria

 

b. Citizen of India, or Persons of Indian Origin

 

c. Professionally qualified or, in the opinion of the Membership Sub-Committee having attained suitable and adequate professional experience.

 

d. Member to be inducted must be proposed by an existing member of the Indian professionals Forum and seconded by another member.

 

SELECTION PROCESS OF GENERAL MEMBERS

 

Membership:

Interested Professionals may apply for membership, on a standard membership form, along with the copy of their Curriculum Vitae. These forms will be scrutinized by the Membership Sub-Committee, who will present their recommendations to the Executive Committee, once a month.

 

The successful Professionals will be contacted, and after having paid their fees, will be invited to meet the members of the Executive Committee at regularly organized social evenings.

 

FEES AND FINANCES

 

A. Membership Fees:

 

1. Corporate Membership (A) N 120,000.00 per annum (5 Members). Membership is transferable. For any number of members exceeding 5, an additional fee of Naira 30,000, shall be applicable). Lifetime Membership Fee for A Category is N 1,200,000

 

2. Corporate Membership (B) N 50,000.00 per annum (2 Members). Lifetime Membership Fee for B Category is N 500,000

 

3. Individual Member N 30,000 per annum. Lifetime Membership Fee for Individual Category is N 300,000

 

(Membership fee etc. may be reviewed from time to time by the Executive Committee)

 

B. Donations:

It is expected that the Forum will be able to raise substantial donations from patrons and well wishers.

 

C. The General Secretary of the Forum, along with Finance Sub- Committee will be the trustees of the funds of the Forum.

 

D. Budget:

Annual budget will be prepared by Treasurer& General Secretary. The Budget shall be ratified by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will ensure financial prudence in its expenditures and ensure that there are no deficits.

 

E. Accounts:

The accounting and functional year of the Indian Professionals Forum shall be from 1st January to the 31st December of each year.

 

F. Audit:

The accounts of the Indian Professionals Forum shall be audited by an Auditor duly appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Forum.

 

 

 

G. Minimum Reserve and Annual Accretion:

The minimum general reserve at any point of time will not be less than                         N 1,000,000.00 (One  Million  naira  only)  and  the  minimum transfer  of  each  accounting  year  will  be  10%  of  income  over Expenditure.

 

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HIGH COMMISSION AND OTHER INDIAN ORGANISATIONS

 

1.  The Forum will interact closely with the Commercial Section of the High Commission and other appropriate Indian Organizations in economic and commercial matters.

 

2.  An Officer of the High Commission of India will be nominated by the Chief Patron to the Executive Committee, as an observer.

 

3. The Forum may maintain close contact with Nigerian-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja Business Club and other Professional Bodies and may hold Program jointly with them.

 

CHIEF PATRON

 

As mentioned earlier, the incumbent High Commissioner of India to Nigeria will be the Chief Patron of the Forum. The Executive Committee of the Forum will interact with the Chief Patron on a regular basis and seek his guidance on major policy decisions. The regularity of these meetings will be dictated by the need for such meetings at any time, but will normally not less than once every two months.

 

PATRONS

 

The Patrons of the Forum will not exercise any executive authority, but will guide the Forum from time to time with the benefits of their experience and resources. For this purpose, regular meetings will be arranged between them and the Executive Committee. They will also be expected and invited to participate in some of the activities and programs of the Forum.