This year 2025 LECDA-USA organized a historic convention in the great state of Arizona in Tucson, under the theme; Achieving Lebialem Paradise Through Unity and Development ‘the role of the Lebialem Fons’. The Convention brought Lebialem people from around the globe to Tucson for a two day festival filled with workshops, panel discussion, and cultural  showcase of the Lebialem rich heritage. 

The convention started with a closed-door meeting, where some key actors in development of lebialem were present including the five Fons from Lebialem, Hon member of Parliament, academician, business minded people and brainstormed on how to transform Lebialem in 2050 to become a paradise. 

Other activities include a friendly football encounter, cultural showcase, different presentations and panel discussions.

• The convention ended with some key resolutions adopted that will help facilitate achieving Lebialem paradise in 2050.  
• Lewoh Cultural and Development Meeting LECUDEM USA, held their bi-annual convention in Minneapolis Minisota on 30th of June where discussion focused on rehabilitation of Lewoh Fondom. 
• Esso-Attah Development Association EDA-USA also organized its annual convention in New York on July 12th with a similar objective of raising money to fund various projects in the Fondom such as school, health center and water projects.
• Lebang Culture and Development Organization LECUDO USA, has one of its biggest conventions in Boston, Massachusetts on the 29th of July where various activities starting from Football, children fashion displays, traditional dances, panel discussions and fundraising gala. Their biggest project was that of the Road Construction in Lebang. 
• Other Fondoms may have organized their own conventions, but at presstime we do have any details.
• LECDALIFE ( I have asked for the word copy and will drop it here)Benefit Package & Claim Process.

Standard Benefit Package: The standard benefit package is $15,000 compensation paid in event of the death of a member who is in good standing, irrespective of where he/she dies and has chosen to be buried.

Half Benefit Package: A Member who dies within a year (365 days) after becoming active (with a policy/matriculation number) will get half of the benefit package ($7500) a member who is in good standing, irrespective of where a member dies and had chosen to be buried.

Example of Contribution Calculation: with a total of 3000 adult members enrolled, a group of 20 members will be expected to contribute ($15,000 / 3000 Total Adult members = $5.00 a person’s contribution) X 20 Members of the group= $100. Therefore, an invoice of $100 will be sent to the group.

• Documents Needed to Claim Benefits
• Death Certificate is needed for the death to be announced.
• Identification of next-of-kin (Contact Information) by Group Coordinator. 
• A photo of the decease member to be shared on LECDALIFE WhatsApp 
• Proof of USA residency for death outside USA only.
• LECDALIFE Claim Form to be completed and notarized by the beneficiary.

Administrators

LECDALIFE is managed by these six dedicated administrators who have committed themselves to serve the community:

• HRH Dr. Stephen Fomeche (CA, NM, WA, & TX): (520) 245-2162 
• Dr. Pamela Fonju Nkemaka (DC, MD, VA): (973) 704-8158 
• Mafua Akehnbin Josephine Talieh, (OH & MI): (614) 352-7092 
• Barrister Fedelis Fondungallah (Arizona): (651) 235-3994
• Dr. Cornelius Bela (New England & NY/NJ): (781) 267-0360 
• Prof. Aloysius Amin (GA, FL, AL, & CAROLINA): (770) 309 -9925 
• CEO Pascal Etiendem (CEO of LECDA-USA): (520) 981 -5227
• Ms. Nkong Tankeng (Administrative Assistant): (520) 576-3549

For any further questions or suggestions, please contact the administrators using any of the phone numbers or Email: LECDALIFE@gmail.com

Also visit us at www.lecdalife.com

 LECDALIFE & LECDALIFE-KIDS Program 

LECDALIFE is an affordable life insurance program developed and run by Lebialem Cultural and Development Association (LECDA-USA Inc.), a 501 C3 non-profit organization aimed at providing group life insurance and intended to provide funeral assistance to its registered members in good standing.

Criteria for Membership

Residency: A member must be physically present in North America at the time of registration. For purposes of LECDALIFE, residency is defined to include both members who are domiciled in North America and those who visit for a long or short stay. Even though verification of residency is not required at the time of registration, all benefit claims for members who die out of the US must be accompanied by proof of physical presence at the time of registration.

Group Enrollment: Membership is open to any group of 20 or more members such as cultural, social, alumni, professional, or religious groups. A family of not less than 10 members can enroll independently as a group into LECDALIFE.

Waiting Period: The waiting period for every new member or returning member is 5 months or 150 days. After the wait period, a member pays its enrollment fees ($20) and annual administrative fees ($12) to become an active member.

Enrollment Fees: Two payments are due at the end of a waiting period: A $20 one-time enrollment fee per member and an annual administrative fee of $12 is due by January 31st or right after a member becomes matriculated.

Withdrawal & Reinstatement: If a member withdraws from LECDALIFE and decides to rejoin, he/she will pay a $300 reactivation fee, and in addition, pay back, retroactive contributions on all deaths during the period when his/her membership had lapsed.

Benefit Package: A Member’s standard compensation is $15,000 paid in event of the death of a member who is in good standing, irrespective of where a member dies and had chosen to be buried. However, a member who dies in the first year after matriculation will only get half of the standard package ($7500).

Group contribution: When a member dies, the member’s benefit ($15,000 or $7500) is divided equally over the total number of existing adult members to determine individual contribution. A Group’s contribution for each death is the total amount for compensation ($15,000 or $7500) divided by the total number of adult members at the time of the death of a member, and multiplied by the number of members of a group. 

Delinquency: Prompt payment is expected from each group on/before an invoice’s deadline. Late payment puts the group at risk of not benefiting during its delinquency.

LECDALIFE-KIDS PROGRAM

LECDALIFE noted that many kids in North America are not covered by any life insurance program. Parents who enrolled their children in an adult life program struggled to make payments when a death occurs. To lessen the financial burden on families, LECDALIFE created LECDALIFE-KIDS.

• LECDALIFE-KIDS PROGRAM is for children below 18 years.
• Children in this program will only contribute when a death occurs in their category (0 to below 18 years of age).
• Once a child turns 18, he/she will be transferred to the adult program. No registration fee will be required for the transfer.

Enrollment requirements

• Be a resident of North America with a physical address in USA
• Pay $20 one-time registration fee & $12 Annual administrative fee.  Upon enrollment, there is a waiting period of 5 months or 150 days.
• A parent/legal guardian of the enrolling child must be a member of LECDALIFE. Name of the child, date of birth, names of both parents and their LECDALIFE matriculation numbers, if applicable.
• Parents can also enroll in LECDALIFE while enrolling their children.

LECDALIFE-KIDS Benefits

• When a death occurs, $10.000 will be disbursed to parents / legal guardians for funeral expenses, irrespective of place of burial.
• The sum disbursed to the beneficiary will be raised by dividing it by the number of children enrolled and active in the program.

LECDALIFE PRESENTING AT FUNERAL

LECDALIFE is committed to do all in its power to have an administrator or a representative at the funeral of its member. The Group Coordinator of a deceased member is expected to provide funeral information ahead of time and to negotiate a prime time slot for the LECDALIFE representative to present the condolence message and to publicly hand the check to the beneficiary, in the presence of other family members, friends, and sympathizers at the funeral.

No excuse to do embarrassing carwash or GoFundMe for a loved one! For the respect of your dignity in life and in transition

JOIN LECDALIFE / LECDALIFE-KIDS

With all your family members, friends, and community!