THE

CONSTITUTION
of

CHINYEREMAKA AGE
GRADE
1
 MOTTO:
PEACE, UNITY & PROGRESS

DRAFTED CONSTITUTION OF CHINYEREMAKA AGE GRADE

UMUASONYE UMUARIAM, OBOWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREA OF IMO STATE

PREAMBLE:
We the entire members of Chinyeremaka Age Grade in Umuasonye
Umuariam, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, wish to come
together in unity and agree to give ourselves this constitution for the
effective administration of the age grade.

This constitution must be obeyed by every member, who find himself to

be a member of this age grade.

NAME:
The age grade shall be known, called and address as “Chinyeremaka Age
Grade Umuasonye Umuariam, Obowo”.

SECTION 1: SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION

i) The constitution shall serve as guide to the administration of the
age grade.
ii) The constitution shall be supreme and have a binding force on all
members.
iii) Any other law that is inconsistent to this constitution shall, to that
extent of its consistency be null and void.

SECTION 2: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

 To foster the unity among its members.
 To work towards the progress of this age grade and humanity.
2
  To promote corporate spirit among members and to encourage
understanding among them.
 To be our brothers’ keepers.
 To fight and defend our rights.
 To ensure equity and transparency among the age grade members.
SECTION 3: MOTTO OF THE AGE GRADE
The motto of the age grade shall be “Unity, Peace and Progress”.

SECTION 4: GREETINGS/SLOGAN
Ebiri kelenu! Or Ebiri Chinyeremaka kelenu!! Or Umu Chinyereaka Age
kwenu!!!

SECTION 5: MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all, both male and female of this age grade who are
original mates of this age grade and shall cut across three categories,
namely; regular members, patrons and patronesses and regular
members’ wives.
a) Regular Members:
i. Regular members of the age grade shall cut across the eight
kindred that made up Umuasonye, namely:
 Umuokeke
 Umuikeagwu
 Umuihedinma
 Agunadike
 Umunwokeukwu
 Umuihejirika
 Ekezie-na-Anyanwu
 Umuchioma
ii. Shall fall under the age limit that was agreed by the age grade,
and approved by Aladinma Umuasonye.
iii. Must provide his registration fees, birth/baptism certificate

b) Patrons and Patronesses:

3
 Patrons and patronesses will be well meaning individuals/
philanthropists in the L.G.A

c) Regular Members’ Wives:

Regular members’ wives are the wives of the regular members of the
age grade
SECTION 6: HONOURARY MEMBERSHIP
The honourary membership shall be conferred on the wives of our original
registered age mates.

SECTION 7: REGISTRATION
1. Membership shall be effective on the payment of the sum of
N15,000 (fifteen thousand naira only) by each individual member
including the Nchedo meeting a bottle of original hot drink (not
Seaman’s Schnapps).
2. The intending member must be confirmed accordingly as a duly
registered member from his village chairman through the village’s
representative in Chinyeremaka Age Grade.
3. Every registration shall be in the person’s house
4. a plate of ugba
5. a jar of palm wine
6. 1 cooler of white rice with enough meat inside the stew
7. 8 pieces of kola nuts (Orji Igbo)
8. Garden egg with “oso oji”
9. 2 cartons of beer
10. ½ crate of malt
11. 2 bags of pure water

SECTION 8: EXECUTIVE
The executive shall be the custodian of the age grade and shall hold
executive meeting at the venue determine by the chairman and the
executives shall consist of the following:
i. Chairman
ii. Vice Chairman
4
 iii. Secretary
iv. Vice Secretary
v. Financial Secretary
vi. Treasurer
vii. Provosts 1 and 2
viii. P.R.O. (Public Relation Officer)
ix. Welfare officer
x. Project and Investment Officer
xi. Prayer Co-ordinator

SECTION 9: THE DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVES

The duties of the executives include:
i) Chairman
a. He is the head of the age grade and presiding officer in all
gathering/meetings.
b. Co-ordinate effectively the running of the age grade and in
privacy to whatever is going on in other portfolios.
c. He has the power to query any erring member upon consent of
2 or 3 of the executives.
d. He is entitled for emergency meeting when the need arise with
consultation of few executives and determine the venue.
e. He has the authority to adjourn or close a disorder during the
gathering meetings.
f. He shall issue permit to members seeking to absent themselves
from the age grade meetings/gatherings on good ground.
g. In case of any critical matter, the chairman will rule it in the
way it suit the entire age grade.
h. He is the principal signatory to the age grade’s account.

ii) Vice Chairman

a. He shall walk in hand with the chairman.
b. He shall deputize for the chairman in his absence.

iii) The General Secretary

5
 a. Shall summon all general meetings under the directive of the
chairman.
b. Prepare and make available to all executive members with the
information on the agenda for the meetings base on the Excos’
meeting.
c. Take minutes on both the age grade meetings and any other
activities been organized or call the attention of the age grade
and make sure that any finance that was realized during the
meeting will indicate at the minutes for record purposes.
d. Make available the minutes of the previous meeting to the next
meeting.
e. Shall be one of the signatories to the age grade account.
f. Keep inventory of the age grade property.

iv) Vice Secretary

a. Shall work in hand with the secretary.
b. Shall deputize for the secretary in his absence.

v) Financial Secretary
a. Shall collect the registration and annual subscription fees.
b. See to the general financial contributions of the members.
c. Be a signatory to the age grade’s account.
d. Present his account for auditing when necessary.
e. Be a member of any fund raising committee that may be set-up.
f. Consult the treasurer whenever there is need, but with the
chairman’s approval.
g. Shall not keep the age grade money beyond 48 hours after
receipt.

vi) The Treasurer

a. Shall account for all the money belonging to the age grade.
b. Make his account available for auditing when required.
c. Be a signatory to the age grade’s account.

6
vii) Public Relations Officer (P.R.O)
a. Shall be responsible for all social activities of the age grade.
b. It is his duty to inform and enlighten the public about the
activities of the age grade.
c. Shall for a four-man committee to assist in effective
dissemination concerning the age grade

viii) Provosts 1
a. He is entitle to maintain orderliness in the meeting or any other
gathering
b. They are to arrange and be incharge in any refreshment in the
meeting or any other gathering

ix) Provost 2
a. Shall work in hand with the Provost 1.
b. Shall deputize for the Provost 1 in his absence.

x) Welfare Officer
a. His duty is to be a point of contact for issue relating to the
wellbeing of members, with the aim of fostering positive
experience and relationships within the age grade.

xi) Project and Investment Officer

a. He is responsible for the administrative and organizational
aspect of project management to ensure a successful project
b. His duty is to identify business opportunities and secure
investments that promote the financial interest of the age grade.

xii) Prayer Co-ordinator

a. He is responsible for planning, promoting and leading prayer
initiatives in the age grade.
b. He is responsible for praying or assigning someone to prayer
before and after meeting of the age grade.

7
SECTION 10:
A. DURATION OF OFFICES
i) All the Excos in this age grade have to rule for three years
ii) They are to be sworn in immediately after the election or not more
than one month after the election.
iii) All assets and liabilities of the age grade shall be handed over to
the new cabinet in a general meeting of the age grade.
iv) Before an election is held, the out-going cabinet shall render
account of their stewardship by reading out the financial and
material accounts of their office, together with the chairman
showing his achievement.

B. QUALIFICATION OF OFFICERS
For a member to qualify to be elected to any of the offices in section
6 above:
i. He must be a person of proven character and regularly attend the
meetings/gathering of the age grade.
ii. That person must be diligent, humble, hardworking and otherwise,
etc.
iii. The person must have a managerial quality.
iv. Must be financial up-to-date and no owing the age grade any
kobo.

C. ELECTION/MODE OF OFFICES
i. The election shall be by simple majority of open ballot system.
ii. The candidate with the highest vote will be elected.
iii. Offices must be by election or by consensus, when the demands
arise.
iv. All the kindred in Umuasonye must have a representative in the
executives for equity.

SECTION 11: IMPEACHMENT/DISSOLUTION OF OFFICE

i. Any officer that is found guilty of any offence shall be impeached
base on the decision of the majority.
8
 NB: before bringing the matter to the general house, it must be
brought to the executive for consideration.

The offences are:

 Inactiveness in the meeting regularly
 Assault
 Traveling without informing the age grade
 Gossip
 Gambling
 Being absent in the meeting without giving any genuine
excuse.
 Embezzlement of fund
 Raping
 Late coming
 Leaving the meeting venue
 Interruption
 Abusive language
 Fighting during meeting/gathering
 Sharing at meeting
 Stealing and other forms of social ills and vices.

ii. The office shall be dissolved in a general meeting on a date

agreed upon by the members.
iii. The age grade shall appoint a returning officer who will conduct
election as stipulated in section 8 above.

SECTION 12: DISCIPLINE AND ORDERLINESS

A member that committed the offences in section 10 (i) shall be giving
any of the below punishment base on the offence committee:-
i. Inactiveness in the meeting regularly: Any member at home ho
fails to attend meeting/gathering of the age grade without genuine
reason will pay a fine of N500.
ii. Assault: for assault, noisemaking, laughter, he must pay the age
grade the sum of N5,000 each on the spot. Refusal to pay the fine
9
 will result in the offender being ordered out of the meeting/gathering
by the provosts.
iii. Traveling without informing the age grade: any executive who
want to travel must inform the age grade with a written note at least
one month before traveling and the age grade shall approve it
immediately before it’s late.
iv. Gossip: if found guilty, must pay the sum of N20,000
v. Gambling if found guilty, must pay the sum of N5,000
vi. Being absent in the meeting without giving any genuine excuse:
If any of the executive whom we know was around that fail to attend
the meeting for 3 consecutive times shall be impeach.
o Genuine excuse will be considered.
vii. Embezzlement of fund: any executive/member that embezzle the
age grade fund must pay back and go for one month suspension and
must return with an apology letter, with fine of N5,000, 4 kola nuts
(Orji Igbo) and one hot drink original.
viii. Raping: expulsion of the rapist from the age grade.
ix. Late coming: after reading of the previous meeting minutes, the
person is to pay N200.
x. Stealing: in case of stealing, if found guilty, the stolen property must
be returned and go for one month suspension and must return with
an apology letter, with a fine of N5,000, 4 kola nuts (Orji Igbo) and
one hot drink original.
xi. Whataspp Inappropriate Content & Penalties: As a responsible
and respected age-grade community, we believe in maintaining
decency, respect, and dignity in all our interactions — both offline
and online. In light of that, the following bye-law is hereby adopted
and takes immediate effect:
a) No Pornographic or Nude Content: Posting pornographic
materials, nude pictures, or sexually explicit videos of any kind is
strictly prohibited in this WhatsApp group. This platform is meant
to foster unity, communication, and progress — not to share
inappropriate or offensive content.
b) Penalty for Violation: Anyone who violates this rule shall be
required to pay a fine of ₦5,000 payable to the age-grade treasury
10
 or its designated representative. Repeat offenders may face further
disciplinary actions, including removal from the group, pending a
general decision.
c) Reminder: Let us all remember that our digital behavior reflects
our collective values. We are role models and ambassadors of our
age-grade and community. Let’s act accordingly.
xii. Leaving the meeting venue: members shall not leave the meeting
venue when proceedings are going on except with the permission of
the Provost. Defaulters shall be made to pay a fine of N500.
xiii. Abusive Language: Members shall not use any vulgar or abusive
language to one another during meeting proceeding, popularly
known as “okwu njakiri”. Defaulters shall be made to pay a fine of
N500.
xiv. Interruption: Members shall not interrupt any person on his feet
while speaking. NB: Think before you speak. Defaulters shall be
made to pay a fine of N500.
xv. Fighting during meeting/gathering: If members fight during
meeting/gathering of the age grade; both parties shall present the
following: Pay a fine of N5,000 each, Original hot drink and An
apology letter
NB: Failure to do so, the both party will be suspended from the age
grade activities.

If a married member of the age grade fight with his wife or family
member, and a complaint from a member of the family is brought to the
age grade, the person shall pay a fine of N5,000, Original hot drink, An
apology letter

xvi. Phone ringing during meeting attract a penalty of N200

xvii. Sharing at meeting: All members of this age grade in attendance in
a meeting shall always observe good table manners. The following
fines shall hold in offences under this number (xvi)
 No member shall come near the sharing table as sharing is
going on with exception of the provosts. Violation of this
carries a fine of N200
11
  Any provost who misuses his office during sharing shall pay
a fine of N200
NB: Everything presented at the meeting must be shared equally, no
preference. “Nobody is above the law, therefore be properly guided”.

SECTION 13: GENERAL CONDUCT OF THE MEETING

A. MEETING
i. The meeting of the age grade shall be last Sunday of every month
ii. The meetings commence from 1:00pm – 3:30pm
iii. At the meeting, the chairman shall recognize anybody raising up
his hand to speak
iv. At the meeting, there shall be an opening prayer to commence and
closing prayer after motion adjournment as been seconded.
v. Attendance of all members shall be taking at the meeting.

B. HOSTING OF MEETING
The hosting member shall give the age grade the following items:
 2 cartons of beer,
 Half crate of malt
 A cooler of white rice with enough meat inside the stew
 1 original hot drink
 4 kolanuts (orji Igbo)
 Enough garden egg
 A sizeable plate of African salad (ugba)
 1 big jar of palm wine
 A sizeable meat (anu orji)

i. Failure to provide the complete requirement shall pay the sum

N50,000
ii. In any case a member did not host the age grade at the appropriate
time, shall pay the age grade the sum of N50,000
iii. If incase the person paid the money on the day of the meeting,
N40,000 out of the money will be shared among the members

12
 who were present at the meeting include the host and N10,000
will go to the age grade’s purse
iv. In case the money is being paid after the day of the meeting, it
will be forwarded to the age grade fund.

SECTION 14: FUND RAISING

i. The age grade shall raise fund through the following means:
 Dues,
 Registration,
 Fine,
 Levy and freewill donation,
 Voluntary donation to run the age grade affairs effectively.

ii. Every member of the age grade shall pay monthly dues of N200
which take effect from the date of registration.

NB: It is subject to change by the executive with the support of the

members present at the meeting.

iii. Levy; for the purpose of projects, the entire members may decide to
impose levy of any amount on them that is generally agreed by the
members.

SECTION 15: PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS

A. LIFE RIGHTS
a) Invitation: Any member who wishes to invite the age grade to any
occasion for life right shall pass the information with a bottle of
original hot drink and it must be in a general meeting.
 A jar of palm wine
 Provided that such individual shall reach the age grade in not
less than 3 (three) week to the occasion/ceremony.

b) On the day of the ceremony: the celebrant most gives the age grade
the following items;
 2 cartons beer
 ½ carton of stout (Guinness)
 1 crate of malt
 ½ big jar of palm wine
13
  1 cooler of white rice with stew and enough meat inside
 1 bottle of original hot drink
 4 pieces of kola nut and garden egg (orji igbo)

c) Dissatisfaction with the items provided: where the age grade is not
satisfied with the items provided by the celebrant, they will fine the
member as decided by the executive committee based on what he
fails to provide and deduct the amount from the member’s life right.

d) Right of the celebrant: The age grade shall give the celebrant the
sum of N80,000 (Eighty Thousand Naira only) and this right in this
section shall be once in a member’s life time.

e) Contribution: for this right in this section every member shall

contribute the sum N3,000 (Three thousand naira only) before or
during the ceremony.

f) Failure to contribute: Failure of any member to pay this

contribution shall attract 25 percent fine of the original amount.

e) This life right shall be given to not more than three members in a
year.
f) Any member who is inviting the age grade to any ceremony outside
Obowo shall provide means of transportation for the age grade.
g) We will stay for one year before we start giving life right, from the
date of launching of this constitution.

SECTION 16: CEREMONY RIGHT (OUTSIDE INVITATION)

Such invitation shall be subject to ratification by the executive committee
provided that it does not contradict with the aims and objectives of the age
grade. The celebrant shall host the age grade satisfactorily and in return
the age grade shall appreciate through a free-will donation not less than
N2,000.

SECTION 17: DEATH RIGHT TO A MEMBER

14
a. If any bonifide member dies and official information brought to the
age grade, the executive committee shall visit the family of the
deceased member first.
b. The family of the deceased member shall notify the entire age grade
with the following items;
 1 bottle of original hot drink
 four pieces of kola nut –(oji igbo)
 A Sizeable meat
c. On the night of wake keeping, the family of the deceased member
shall give the age grade the following items;
 1(one) life fowls
 Meat (anu oji)
 One bottle of original hot drink
 One jar of palm wine
 One carton of beer
 One cooler of rice with meat
 Two tubers of yam
 four pieces of kola nut –(oji igbo)
d. At the burial day, the family of the deceased member shall give the
age grade the following items;
 One bottle of original hot drink
 One jar of palm wine
 Two cartons of beer
 One cooler of rice
 Four pieces of kola nut
In addition, the age grade shall help ourselves with the sum of
N10,000 (ten thousand naira only).
e. The sum of N5,000 (five thousand naira only) shall be given to the
chief mourner for coffin.
f. The sum of N5,000 (five thousand naira only) shall be given to the
chief for mortuary.

15
 g. The sum of N80,000 (eighty thousand naira only) shall in addition
with the provisions of subsections above be given to chief mourner
as the death right of the member.
h. For this death right, every member shall contribute the sum of
N3,500 (Three thousand, five hundred naira only) before or during
the burial ceremony
SECTION 17: DEATH RIGHT TO MEMBER WIFE
In case of the death of a member’s wife the age grade shall
a. Cause a delegation to visit the deceased family
b. The same requirement provided in section 16(b) above shall be
applicable in the case of the death of a member’s wife.
c. On the night of wake keeping, half of the entire requirement
provided in section 16(c) above shall be applicable in the case of
the death of a member’s wife.
d. At the burial day, half of the requirements provided in section 16
(d) above shall be applicable in the case of the death of a
member’s wife.
e. The sum of N40,000 (forty thousand naira only) shall be given to
the bereaved member as the death right of his dead wife.
f. For this death right every member shall contribute the sum of
N2,000 (two thousand naira only) before or during the burial day.
Failure of any member to pay his contribution shall attract
50percent fine of the original amount.
In addition the age grade will help ourselves with the sum of N 5,000
(five thousand naira only).
SECTION 19: DEATH RIGHT TO A MEMBER’S CHILD/
PARENTS
a. The age grade shall send delegates to visit the bereaved family for
condolence with a bottle of original hot drink and N5,000 (five
thousand naira only) in case of the death of a member’s child.
b. The member whose parents are deceased will notify the age grade
with the items as in section 16
16
The age grade through the welfare committee shall send delegates to visit
the bereaved family with four pieces of kola nut, a bottle of original hot
drink, and cash of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira Only) in case of death of
a member’s parent.
SECTION 20: CONDITIONS TO ENTITLE A MEMBER THE
RIGHTS IN CHAPTER 18 ABOVE
a. The member must be registered.
b. In case of life rights, the member must have been registered for a
period not less than 24months (2years).
c. The member must be financial up-to-date (bonifide member).
d. In case of life right, a financial up-to-date member must have cleared
all his debts on or before invitation.
e. In case of death benefits, member’s indebtedness shall not exceed
the sum of N5,000 (five thousand naira only).
f. The age grade must be satisfied with the requirements that will be
provided by the member to entitle him the above rights.
g. For life right to be given to a member, the member must provide two
sureties who shall assure the age grade that the member will continue
to pay his levy after receiving the life right.
h. The sureties must be free of N5,000 (five thousand naira only)
indebtedness Chineyeremaka age grade.
i. The sureties shall be held responsible in case the member fails to
comply with the agreement.
j. The member shall sign an agreement with the age grade that he will
continue to contribute his levies after receiving life right.

SECTION 21: OATH:

The oath of the age grade shall be two places, namely oath of office and
oath of allegiance to members.
i. OATH OF OFFICE.
I, …………………………………………………………………….
From ……………………………….Umuasonye Umuariam Obowo
L.G.A has taken the position of …………………………………. In

17
 the and has Pledge to discharge my duty deliberately to the best of
my ability in line with the age grade constitution; so help me God.

Dated this …………. Day of …………………..… 20 ………

Sign: ………………………..
ii. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
I, …………………………………………………………………….
From ……………………………….Umuasonye Umuariam Obowo
L.G.A as a member of the age grade, has pledge to abide by the
rules and regulations of the age grade constitution; so help me God.

Dated this …………. Day of …………………..… 20 ………

Sign: ………………………..
SIGNED:
__________________________ _______________________
CHAIRMAN SECRETARY
Constitution Drafting Committee Constitution Drafting Committee

__________________________ _______________________
CHAIRMAN SECRETARY
Chinyeremaka Age Grade Chinyeremaka Age Grade

18
19