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Governing Structure

Opening

The governance of The Ikoku Foundations is structured in the following manner:

Leadership and Management

The Ikoku Foundations are executively led, managed and controlled by their sole Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, who serves as their sole President, CEO, and Chair.

Trustees and Directors

The Ikoku Charitable Trusts and The Ikoku Foundations are governed respectively by a Board of Trustees and a set of Advisory Boards of Directors. The basic architecture of the three-board system is defined by the Founderā€™s Declaration of Trust and by the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of The Ikoku Charitable Trusts and The Ikoku Foundations. Below are a number of details pertaining to the boardsā€™ relations:

Complementary Roles
through a set of complementary roles, the three boards carry out the essential fiduciary duties normally associated with a board of trustees, while also ensuring that adequate attention is paid to the quality and progress of planning, policy and operations, and to core contributions toward the Trustsā€™ and Foundationsā€™ complementary missions and charitable purposes
Board of Trustees
the Board of Trustees is primarily charged with receiving, holding and managing donated assets and other property for The Chinyere and Chinelo Ikoku Foundation and The Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku Foundation. The Board of Trustees is also tasked with developing and evaluating long-range strategy, planning and policy, and with approving major budgets and capital projects, overseeing plans for endowment spending and growth, and engaging other non-financial matters of significant and enduring importance. As ex-officio trustees, the President and Treasurer coordinate such affairs of the Board of Trustees with those of the Advisory Boards of Directors of The Ikoku Foundations
Advisory Board of Directors
each of The Ikoku Foundations is guided by an Advisory Board of Directors, larger in membership than the Board of Trustees, tasked in part with providing counsel to leadership and trustees on medium-to-long-range strategic directions, priorities, planning and policy. Still, the primary fiduciary duties of each Advisory Board are to the ongoing operations of their respective Ikoku Foundation, and to the fulfillment of the Trustsā€™ specifying charitable purposes through each Foundation. The Advisory Boards carry out these responsibilities largely through the operation of several committees, chaired by and reporting to Advisory Board members
Complementary Objectives
together, the three Boards work to ensure the health, vision and perpetuity of The Ikoku Charitable Trusts and The Ikoku Foundations ā€” led by the President and Chair, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, the Treasurer, Ijeoma Chinwe Ikoku, and the Secretary, Chinyere Ukeagumo Ikoku Jr, who serve as ex-officio members on the three boards

Partnerships and Affiliations

Announcements of any affiliations, partnerships, sponsorships, and equivalent with The Ikoku Foundations shall be provided upon agreements executed by the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, solely via this Founderā€™s express written instrument signed and sealed.

Public Records and Standing

The Ikoku Foundations are private and nonpublic organizations, with minimal disclosure requirements. Appropriately limited public record confirmation of The Ikoku Foundationsā€™s formation, governance, and status is available via minimally required disclosure of filing with the appropriate government entities, namely:

California Secretary of State
at the California Secretary of State Business Search, accessible via this link, and typing under Entity Name: ā€œThe Chinyere and Chinelo Ikoku Foundation,ā€ then viewing history for past and current filings
California Secretary of State
at the California Secretary of State Business Search, accessible via this link, and typing under Entity Name: ā€œThe Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku Foundation,ā€ then viewing history for past and current filings
California Registry of Charities
at the California State Registry of Charities Verification, accessible via this link, and typing under Organization Name: ā€œThe Chinyere and Chinelo Ikoku Foundation,ā€ then viewing history for past and current filings
California Registry of Charities
at the California State Registry of Charities Verification, accessible via this link, and typing under Organization Name: ā€œThe Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku Foundation,ā€ then viewing history for past and current filings
Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Lagos, Nigeria, February 23 2019 (Babatunde Olajide)

Governing Nature

Opening

The governance of The Ikoku Foundations is, as follows, in character, essence, and nature:

Independent in Nature

The Ikoku Foundations are formed to be and remain independent and

Independent Existence
shall exist as independent organization entities
Independent Governance
shall be administered, controlled, managed, operated, and thus governed independently by the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, and the aforementioned Board
Governance by No Other
shall not be administered, controlled, managed, operated, or thus governed by any other entity, office, or person, in any way ā€” including via capture, committee, conservatorship, monitoring, oversight, review, sponsorship, supervision, surveillance, tracking, wardship ā€” for any period or for any reason

Private in Nature

The Ikoku Foundations are formed to be and remain private and

Private Existence
shall exist as nonpublic and private organization entities
Private Governance
shall be administered, controlled, managed, operated, and thus governed privately by the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, and the aforementioned Board
Governance Not Publicly
shall not be administered, controlled, managed, operated, or thus governed as public or construed as public, in any way ā€” including as collective, communal, communist, cooperative, socialist, state or equivalent ā€” for any period or for any reason

Single in Nature

The Ikoku Foundations are formed to be and remain self-existent, single and central and

Single, Central Existence
shall exist as self-existent, single and central organization entities
Single, Central Governance
shall be administered, controlled, managed, operated, and thus governed singly and centrally by the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, and the aforementioned Board
Governance Not Plurally
shall not be administered, controlled, managed, operated, or thus governed as being in or having plurality, in any way ā€” including as though being or having an alternative, copy, double, multiple, plural, shadow, or equivalent, or as permitting any other entities to exist or operate under the names of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” for any period or for any reason

Sole Authorizer and Authorization

As the sole President and Chair of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” with sole executive control powers ā€” the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, is the only person empowered to

Sole Authorizer
authorize The Ikoku Foundations to engage in, enter into, expend for, or otherwise execute any activities, affairs, arrangements, or their equivalent
Entailing Governance
especially any activities, affairs, or arrangements entailing or pertaining to any aspects of administration, control, management, operation, and thus governance
Entailing Property
and especially any activities, affairs, or arrangements entailing or pertaining to any assets, finances, monies, and properties, intellectual or real
Sole Manner of Authorization
with such authorization proceeding solely by express, explicit, fully informed, independent and specific knowledge, review, consent, and approval of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, to be confirmed and executed solely via this Founderā€™s expressly written instrument signed and sealed
No Alternative
with no other activity by, for, in, on behalf of or otherwise relating to The Ikoku Foundations ā€” including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services ā€” accepted or permitted as alternative to the aforementioned sole authorizer and sole manner of authorization
No Delegation
with such authorization not to be delegated to or otherwise assumed by any other entity, office, or person

Sole Decision- and Vote-Authorizing

As the sole President and Chair of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” with sole executive control powers ā€” the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, is the only person empowered with

Sole Decision-Authorizing Powers
any and all decision-authorizing powers with respect to The Ikoku Foundations
Sole Vote-Authorizing Powers
any and all vote-authorizing powers with respect to The Ikoku Foundations
Entailing Governance
especially with respect to any and all decision-making and voting or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any aspects of administration, control, management, operation, and thus governance
Entailing Property
and especially with respect to any and all decision-making and voting or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any assets, finances, monies, and properties, intellectual or real
Sole Manner of Decision- and Vote-Authorizing
with such decision-authorizing and vote-authorizing powers or equivalent proceeding solely by express, explicit, fully informed, independent and specific knowledge, review, consent, approval, and ultimate authorization of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, to be confirmed and executed solely via this Founderā€™s expressly written instrument signed and sealed
No Alternative
with no other activity by, for, in, on behalf of or otherwise relating to The Ikoku Foundations ā€” including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services ā€” accepted or permitted as alternative to the aforementioned sole decision-authorizing and vote-authorizing powers and sole manner of confirming, executing, and proceeding with these decision-authorizing and vote-authorizing powers
No Delegation
with such decision-authorizing and vote-authorizing powers not to be delegated to or otherwise assumed by any other entity, office, or person

Sole Employment and Appointment

As the sole President and Chair of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” with sole executive control powers ā€” the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, is the only person empowered with

Employment and Appointment Powers
any and all employment and appointment powers with respect to The Ikoku Foundations
Entailing Activities, Affairs, Arrangements
especially any and all employment and appointment powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any activities, affairs, or arrangements relating to agents, committees, contracts, directorships, internships, memberships, partnerships, sponsorships, third-parties, trusteeships, volunteers, work and workers, or their equivalent
Entailing Governance
especially any and all employment and appointment powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any aspects of administration, control, management, operation, ownership, and thus governance
Entailing Property
and especially any and all employment and appointment powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any assets, finances, monies, and properties, intellectual or real
Sole Manner of Employment and Appointment
with such employment and appointment powers or equivalent proceeding solely by express, explicit, fully informed, independent and specific knowledge, review, consent, approval, and ultimate authorization of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, to be confirmed and executed solely via this Founderā€™s expressly written instrument signed and sealed
No Alternative
no other activity by, for, in, on behalf of or otherwise relating to The Ikoku Foundations ā€” including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services ā€” accepted or permitted as alternative to the aforementioned sole employment and appointment powers and sole manner of confirming, executing, and proceeding with these employment and appointment powers
No Delegation
with such employment and appointment powers not to be delegated to or otherwise assumed by any other entity, office, or person

Sole Financing and Funding

As the sole President and Chair of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” with sole executive control powers ā€” the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, is the only person empowered with

Financial and Funding Powers
any and all financial and funding powers with respect to The Ikoku Foundations
Entailing Activities, Affairs, Arrangements
especially any and all financial and funding powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any activities, affairs, or arrangements relating to contracts, debts, disbursements, liens, loans, sales, transactions, or their equivalent
Entailing Governance
especially any and all financial and funding powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any aspects of administration, control, management, operation, and thus governance
Entailing Property
and especially any and all financial and funding powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any assets, finances, monies, and properties, intellectual or real
Sole Manner of Financing and Funding
with such financial and funding powers or equivalent proceeding solely by express, explicit, fully informed, independent and specific knowledge, review, consent, approval, and ultimate authorization of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, to be confirmed and executed solely via this Founderā€™s expressly written instrument signed and sealed
No Alternative
no other activity by, for, in, on behalf of or otherwise relating to The Ikoku Foundations ā€” including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services ā€” accepted or permitted as alternative to the aforementioned sole financial and funding powers and sole manner of confirming, executing, and proceeding with these financial and funding powers
No Delegation
with such financial and funding powers not to be delegated to or otherwise assumed by any other entity, office, or person

Sole Policies- and Rules-Making

As the sole President and Chair of The Ikoku Foundations ā€” with sole executive control powers ā€” the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, is the only person empowered with

Policies- and Rules-Making Powers
any and all policies- and rules-making and compliance powers with respect to The Ikoku Foundations
Entailing Governance
especially any and all policies- and rules-making and compliance powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any aspects of administration, control, management, operation, and thus governance
Entailing Property
and especially any and all policies- and rules-making and compliance powers or their equivalent entailing or pertaining to any assets, finances, monies, and properties, intellectual or real
Sole Manner of Policies- and Rules-Making
with such policies- and rules-making and compliance powers or equivalent proceeding solely by express, explicit, fully informed, independent and specific knowledge, review, consent, approval, and ultimate authorization of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, to be confirmed and executed solely via this Founderā€™s expressly written instrument signed and sealed
No Alternative
no other activity by, for, in, on behalf of or otherwise relating to The Ikoku Foundations ā€” including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services ā€” accepted or permitted as alternative to the aforementioned sole policies- and rules-making and compliance powers and sole manner of confirming, executing, and proceeding with these policies- and rules-making and compliance powers
No Delegation
with such policies- and rules-making and compliance powers not to be delegated to or otherwise assumed by any other entity, office, or person

with No Removal or Reduction

And furthermore, there shall be no manner, means, or possibility of removal, replacement or equivalent ā€” or delegation, diminishment, reduction, or equivalent of the sole executive powers ā€” of the Founder, Alvan Azinna Chibuzo Ikoku, in any way, for any period, under any circumstances, or for any benefit, end, goal, interest, mission, need, objective, purpose, reason, or equivalent.

Actor in Macbeth Costume
Macbeth, Undated (New York Public Library)
Wide Staircase with Statue and Urns on First Landing
Stairs, British Museum, London, United Kingdom, 2018 (Monty Lov)
Girl Kneeling in Busy Street
Tibetan Girl, 2017 (Journey Yang)

Governing Policies

Opening

The governance of The Ikoku Foundations is, in important part, conducted via the following codes and policies:

Ikoku User Agreement

The Ikoku Foundations User Agreement and Code of Conduct, which

Collectively Governing
consist of several Codes and Policies that collectively govern all activities, affairs, and arrangements by, for, in, of, on behalf of, referring to and otherwise pertaining to The Ikoku Foundations, including their divisions, series, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their Products and Services
Collectively Including
collectively include ā€” but are not limited to ā€” the Founding Statement, the Governance Statement, the Founding and Governing Code of Ethics, the Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality, the Terms and Conditions of Use and Service, and the Acceptable Uses Policy along with all Associated Codes and Policies
Available Below
are made available further below

Founding Statement

Statement on Founding of The Ikoku Foundations (HTML)

Governance Statement

Statement on Governance of The Ikoku Foundations (HTML)

Founding Code of Ethics

Founding Code of Ethics (HTML)

Privacy and Confidentiality

Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality (HTML)

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions of Use and Service (HTML)

The Acceptable Uses Policy

Acceptable Use Policy (HTML)

All Policies

All Policies (HTML)

Concluding

And as concluding aviso and proviso, you are informed as well as reminded that by conducting any you accept and agree to the conditions, principles, protections, requirements, standards, statements, and terms described The Ikoku Foundations, any activities, affairs, areas, assets, offices, parts, properties, sections, or equivalent of The Ikoku Foundations, any activities, affairs, areas, assets, offices, parts, properties, sections, or equivalent of the divisions, series, subsidiaries, or affiliates of The Ikoku Foundations, as well as any activities, affairs, areas, assets, offices, parts, properties, sections, or equivalent of the Products or Services of The Ikoku Foundations, you accept and agree to the conditions, principles, protections, requirements, standards, statements, and terms described above and in the Codes and Policies, regarding the Founding and Governance of The Ikoku Foundations, in their entirety without modification, including as updated from time to time by the Founder.

Woman Bending Down to Tend Crops
Sierra Leone, 2017 (Annie Spratt)
Child in Costume Looking at Camera
NiƱo, Cusco, Peru, 2018 (Ben Ostrower)
Woman Seated on Mat on Floor, Holding Fan
Seated by Kpone Katamanso District Assembly Office, Tema, Ghana, 2017 (Nathaniel Tetteh)
People Holding Peace Banner and Respect Sign
Women's March, Boston, USA, 2017, (Alice Donovan Rouse)

Also at The Foundations

As stated earlier, The Ikoku Foundations are dedicated to fostering philanthropy and good works concerning Africa, its global diasporas and a range of shared societies ā€” toward the betterment of lives across the globe. And so in accordance with the above, The Foundations provide the following:

I.

Nonprofits Dedicated to Africa

Independent, private, non-profit organizations that serve the public interest in Africa and its global diasporas ā€” by advancing education and research and by also supporting creative ideas, civic endeavors and emerging communities, organizations and societies.

II.

Support for a Global and Just Future

A founding mission and ongoing emphases of support for good works that help the public understand Africaā€™s essential place in a global future, one that is to be more knowledgeable, environmentally sustainable, equitable and of benefit across communities in just societies.

III.

A Vision of the Public Good

A vision of the public good that accounts for the past while ensuring a just and shared future. That draws inspiration from peoples who, despite a history of systemic difficulties, maintain an unyielding belief that the betterment of their human condition will foster the betterment of those living around them and will enhance the present and futures of the regularly disenfranchised, marginalized and underserved.

More About Us

The Ikoku Foundations

About Us ā€¢ Governance ā€¢ Policies

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