History
2005
The Ivory CLub of Tampa Bay initiates the Annual Lectures Series with Guest Speaker Dr. Cecil A. Blake, Chairman African Studies Department University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Topic, “Africa beyond Conflict: The Way Forward”
2006
In 2006, the Annual Lectures Series was again held at the Embassy Suites on Saturday May 6th. Guest speaker was Godfrey Ubeti Nzamujo, PhD., Songhai Center, Benin Republic. He gave a brilliant lecture on Innovations in African Agriculture.
2007
Annual Lectures Series held at Marriott Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker Honorable Arthenia Joyner, Florida State Senator.
2008
Annual Lectures Series held at West Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker Pastor Jeffrey Singletary.
2009
Annual Lectures Series held at West Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Alfred Zack – Williams, PhD. University of Central Lancashire, England. Topic, “The Spirit of Amistad”
2010
Annual Lectures Series held at West Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Nzinga Metzger, PhD. Topic, “Strengthening Cross Atlantic ties: Africans and African Americans“.
2012
Annual Lectures Series held at West Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Agnes Ngoma Leslie, PhD. Topic, “Africa in America, America in Africa: Knowledge-Pride-Empowerment; Strengthening Business and Community linkages”
2013
Annual Lectures Series held at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Nzinga Metzger, PhD. Topic, “African Philosophical Concepts from Root to Fruit“. Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship at the University of South Florida for 2013-2014 awarded to 4 recipients and special $5,000 scholarship awarded
2014
Annual Lectures Series held at the Holiday Inn Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Marcia A. Wiss, J.D. Topic, “Doing Business in Africa“. 2014-2015 Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship at the University of South Florida awarded to 9 recipients
2015
Annual Lectures Series held at the Holiday Inn Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Nzinga Metzger, PhD. Topic, ” …OF DARKNESS, BEAUTY, TOGETHERNESS & LIGHT:The Reality, and Relevance of Traditional African Spiritual Systems to Contemporary Africans and the World at Large“ 2015-2016 Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship
2016
2016 Annual Lectures Series held at the Holiday Inn Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Sophie Ikenye Topic, “Media and the African Narrative: Telling the Full Story“ 2016-2017 Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship at the University of South Florida awarded to 6 recipients
2017
2017 Annual Lectures Series held at the Holiday Inn Westshore Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Okey Ndibe Topic, “Ties That Bind: Shared Memory and History between Africans and African Americans” was the theme of the evening“ 2017-2018 Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship at the University of
2018
2018 Annual Lectures Series held at the Westshore Grand Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Dr. Joyce Ashuntantang Topic, “Recording Collective Memory: Preserving Africa’s Oral Narratives” was the theme of the evening 2018-2019 Ivory Club Endowed Scholarship at the University of South
2019
2019 Annual Lectures Series held at the Westshore Grand Hotel, Tampa, Florida. Guest Speaker, Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie Topic, “The state of Africa’s economic Emergence – United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) engagement in Africa”” was the theme of the evening