[Npoc-discuss] A Tribute to Olevié Kouami

[Oreoluwa Lesi]

This is such a shock to hear.I took over from Olevié as Secretariat of NPOC and, still fairly new to the constituency, Olevié very cheerfully guided me through the responsibilities of my new role.I never met him in person, but such was his warmth via our virtual interactions that he felt like an old friend.My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones.Oreoluwa LesiExecutive Director, Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)www.wtec.org.ng | @wteconline
-------- Original message --------From: Poncelet Ileleji via Npoc-discuss <npoc-discuss at icann.org> Date: 10/20/23  1:29 PM  (GMT+01:00) To: NPOC Discuss <npoc-discuss at icann.org> Subject: [Npoc-discuss] A Tribute to Olevié Kouami 



















Good day NPOC Colleagues,

 

How do I start this write up,  with flashes of the early days of NPOC popping
back into my memory. It was a shock to me to read this morning  on our African IGF WhatsApp group on a post by
Emmanuel Vitus on the demise of Olevié Kouami  who died of a heart attack in the early hours
of Thursday 19 October 2023 in Lomé, Togo.

 

I got to know Olevié Kouami   in the
early days of NPOC over a decade ago,  we
were the only two Africans that our organisations were part of NPOC then.  He was jovial, fun and we always agreed to
disagree.  Olevié Kouami  was very active in NPOC in the early days, we
worked tirelessly together with our Late Chair then, Alain Berranger of blessed
memory who we lost some years back, God Bless Alain soul. .

 

I last met Olevié Kouami  in person some 3 years ago at the Pullman
Hotel in Dakar, still his usual self, he only sent a message to me some days
after the global IGF in Kyoto on Facebook. 
To hear of his sudden demise is sad and shocking.

 


Olevié Kouami

in his own way he contributed to NPOC early
development, we co authored with other NPOC Executives  colleagues then (Klaus Stoll, Alain Berranger,
Marie-Laure Lemineur, Cintra Sooknanan, Poncelet Ileleji and Olévié Kouami ) the Non--‐Commercial Stakeholder Group: Not--‐for--‐Profit Operational Concerns Outreach Plan 2013. 
A Plan 10 years plus old ,  am attached again which I believe is still relevant to NPOC even
today.

 

Olevié Kouami he is now with our dearest amiable
chair Alain Berranger in the heavens, am sure they will talk about NPOC as
those early days where heated in our dialogues and exchanges either at ICANN
Meetings or Global IGFs where NPOC used to have sessions then or our numerous
online meetings via  skype or  Adobe Connect back then.

 

To his close friend in NPOC Professor
Emeritus Sam LanFranco who he developed a strong bond with I also send my big
condolences.  NPOC has now lost two
individuals who in the early years of NPOC formation fought for its identity
within ICANN.  Our collective shared
responsibility moving forward  is to see
NPOC carry out its mandate within the ICANN community in an honest and
transparent way where equity counts even though we agree to disagree our NPOC membership
binds us as we share the same objectives hence, we joined NPOC. As ICANN
celebrates 25 years of existence in Hamburg starting tomorrow 21st
October.  NPOC birth to the be the  second Non-Commercial
Stakeholder Group constituency  within
ICANN is also important to mention what we have done to address issues of Not
for Profits within the DNS space, no matter how little some might see our contributions.  To our current
NPOC  leadership, may God guide you to strengthen
NPOC better than before, even though disagreements will happen, but we should
not lose sight of why NPOC became a necessary constituency in ICANN.

 

May the soul of Olevié Kouami     rest in
perfect peace. Adieu Mr Jovial rest in the heavens brother, you ran your race
our God knows best why you left us soon.

 

Peace Always

 

Poncelet

 





Poncelet O. IlelejiJokkolabs Banjul -  Lead / CEOSait Matty Road, Bakau, Adjacent to Swedish ConsulateKMC, The GambiaP O Box 4496 Bakau,KMC, The GambiaSkype: pons_utdTel Direct Office: +220 4495115Tel Mobile/Whatsapp: +220 9912508LinkedIn: Jokkolabs BanjulFacebook: Jokkolabs BanjulTwitter: @jBanjul
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