Fundraising is often imagined as a matter of formal proposals, institutional appeals, and structured outreach. Yet, in practice, the most powerful tool available to any campaign is far more personal: the network of relationships that individuals carry with them. The following account illustrates how a single connection, when activated, can open doors that formal channels may never reach.
Mgbe (Leopard) – The Ejagham Totem
During EjT’s ongoing fundraising campaign for the Ejagham Language Curriculum Development (ELCD) project, an appeal letter was sent to one of our resource persons, Prof. Alice Asim, just as similar letters had been sent to many others. Her response, however, was far from routine. In addition to the standard acknowledgment, she shared a link to a foundation she knew well: the TY Danjuma Foundation, an institution with a strong track record of supporting health and education initiatives. This simple yet profound gesture embodied the very principle I had long urged EjT members to embrace, the strategic use of personal networks to enhance Ejagham heritage.
The TY Danjuma Foundation
For months, I have appealed to a particular Ejagham Heritage Custodian Arm of EjT, knowing that many of its members are well connected. Yet it seemed the value of their networks was either underestimated or met with hesitation, perhaps even shyness, in leveraging those connections for collective benefit. Prof. Asim’s bold intervention was therefore a moment of relief. At last, someone not only grasped the message but took action.
My earlier experience with the RELO fundraising campaign had already demonstrated the effectiveness of personal connections. Appeals to Ejagham sons, daughters, and organizations yielded limited response. Frustrated, I turned to my close friends and professional colleagues, all of whom were non-Ejagham. That outreach alone generated approximately 25% of the funds needed for the RELO event. This was not coincidence; it was proof. Networks work. Imagine the scale of success we could achieve if we collectively harnessed the networks available to us as a community.
Inspired by Prof. Asim’s intervention, I promptly completed the TY Danjuma Foundation’s online grants form on 10th November 2025. Unfortunately, the submission failed due to a technical error. Determined not to lose momentum, I contacted Prof. Asim to verify the link. Within hours, I received a phone call and was connected directly to the Foundation’s CEO. He requested that I forward the required documents to him by email and apologised for the faulty portal. I did so immediately and received an acknowledgment soon after.
At that moment, hope was rekindled. The grant was not yet secured, but the pathway had been opened, all because one person chose to activate her network. When I thanked Professor Asim for her support, she simply replied, “It is our matter.” I couldn’t agree more. But we need more Ejagham sons and daughters not only to agree, but to act.
Prof. Alice Eta Asim – Dean, Faulty of Arts and Social Science Education, University of Calabar
This episode underscores a vital lesson: fundraising success is not solely about formal appeals or organizational structures. It is about people, relationships, and the courage to use them. Prof. Asim’s action demonstrates how one individual’s connection can unlock opportunities that benefit the entire community. For EjT, and especially for groups like the aforementioned Ejagham Heritage Custodian Arm of EjT, the challenge is clear. We must move beyond hesitation and recognise that our personal and professional networks are not just social ties; they are powerful instruments for advancing collective goals in Ejagham heritage and beyond.
Prof. Asim’s story is more than a single success. It is a reminder that every member of EjT carries untapped potential within their personal and professional circles. Each connection, whether a colleague, a friend, a former classmate, or a professional contact, social organisation, represents a possible doorway to resources, opportunities, and partnerships that can transform our mission.
Ejagham Couple Proudly Showcase their EjT T-Shirt
Fundraising is not simply about asking for money. It is about mobilizing relationships to create lasting impact. When one person activates their network, the result may be modest. But when an entire community does so, the effect is exponential.
I am thrilled to conclude that on 13 November 2025, the TY Danjuma Foundation formally approved and awarded the full grant requested to EjT in support of the ELCD project. Please join me in extending our profound gratitude to the management of the TY Danjuma Foundation, and to Prof. Alice Asim, for their visionary support.
Call to Action
Prof. Alice Asim did not wait for permission, she acted. Her boldness opened a door for us all. My own RELO journey echoes this truth: when we move with conviction, the world responds.
Now, the future of the fundraising for ELCD, and indeed, the vitality of our broader cultural mission, rests in our hands. Not in the hands of distant benefactors. Not in the hope that someone else will step forward. But in the networks, we each carry, the relationships we’ve built, and the courage we summon to activate them.
This is not a moment for hesitation. It is a moment for leadership. Make your networks count.
Let us rise, not as individuals seeking applause, but as a community claiming its future. Let us each take responsibility. Let us each make the call, send the message, share the story with your networks – companies, churches, foundations, social clubs, elected representatives, politicians etc. Because together, we can unlock opportunities far greater than any one of us could achieve alone.
The path has been lit by Prof. Alice Eta Asim. The example has been set. The question is not whether we can follow, it is whether we will, it is whether we will recognize the value of your network, overcome hesitation, and act boldly.
We invite every Ejagham son and daughter, at home and in the diaspora, to join us in thanking the TY Danjuma Foundation for believing in our mission. Let us show our gratitude not only in words, but in action: by sharing this news, by supporting the work ahead, and by continuing to activate our networks for the good of our people.
Ekup na nkad.
Ntufam Engr. Chris Anom CEng, CMarEng, FIMarEST, FRINA
President, EjT
