Together, Ndigbo will surely rise to their challenges

Chief Sir Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, Chief Sir Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has conceded that the main problem of the Igbo today is lack of trust among themselves. “If we Igbo can rebuild trust among ourselves”, he says, “our people will be better placed for it.”

Speaking to London-based veteran journalist, author and publisher, Chief Sir Emeka Asinugo who called on him at his Port Harcourt Road, New Owerri residence, Dr Iwuanyanwu noted that one of the most distinguished attributes of Igbo people which anchored on their trust for each other had flown with the winds since the end of the Nigerian civil war and warned that once the Igbo lacked trust among themselves, it would be difficult to make progress.

Chief Iwuanyanwu extolled Ndigbo as one of the most important of God’s creations, “after the white man!” God had a very soft spot in His heart for the Igbo and endowed them with great intellect. Before the Nigerian civil war, he said, the Igbo were all over the country as school proprietors, teachers and students, businessmen and women, importers and exporters, bank officials, hotel and shop owners, farmers and farm hands, doctors and nurses, lawyers and judges, transporters and so on. They were to Nigeria then, what Asians are to Britain today. They were all over the place, manning all the sensitive positions even in the army. And nothing went wrong because they trusted themselves and had confidence in their capabilities. But today, the Igbo find it difficult to trust themselves.

When Igbo was Igbo, Dr. Iwuanyanwu explained, there was so much unity, such that once Igbo leaders met and took a decision, every Igbo person would abide by it. The trust among the Igbo was the reason apprenticeship schemes became popular with their people. The result was that parents would allow their children to stay with an established Igbo man to learn a skill for periods ranging from two to five years after which the apprentice would then be settled to start his own business.

Learning a trade

Even after the settlement, the newly settled young business man would continue to get goods on credit from his former master and return the money after sale, because of the trust that existed. But lack of trust has diminished that age long cooperation between the master and his former apprentice, which is very worrisome.

Chief Iwuanyanwu said that his focus as President-General has been to deal with some of these more daunting challenges head-on. And to that effect, he has set up various committees to look into the problems that confront the Igbo in Nigeria. Foremost among these committees is the one on education and employment headed by former governor of Anambra state, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige. Dr. Iwuanyanwu said he was very unhappy to observe that even in the eastern states which were very prominent for their academic excellence that was globally hailed, teenage children were still allowed by their parents to hawk on the streets of our towns and cities when they should be in school or doing their school home work. He was optimistic that the committee headed by Dr. Ngige would make far reaching recommendations to ensure that education in every nook and cranny of Igboland is made free and mandatory for all children of school age. That, he said, might cost every Igbo adult about N1, 000 a year as general levy.

There was another committee on the exploration of solid minerals in the southeastern states. Dr. Iwuanyanwu said the southeastern states of Nigeria were magnificently blessed with solid minerals. Within the southeastern zone which comprises of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, Abia state has gold, lead, zinc, limestone, salt, oil and gas. Anambra state has clay, glass-sand, gypsum, iron ore, lead, zinc, lignite, limestone, salt, phosphate and oil. Ebonyi state has gold, lead, zinc and salt. Enugu state has coal, lead, zinc and limestone. Imo state has gypsum, lead, zinc, lignite, limestone, marcasite (also known as white pyrite), phosphate, salt, oil and gas. Dr. Iwuanyanwu has set up a committee to study what is readily available and submit its report to Ohaneze which will liaise with state governments to see how best these endowments can be harnessed to secure employment for the teeming population of young school leavers in the region who are desperately in need of jobs.

Another committee set up by Chief Iwuanyanwu was saddled with the responsibility of reviving the core values of Igbo culture, such as trust among the Igbo predicated on age-grade organisations and respect for older persons. Dr. Iwuanyanwu was optimistic that the blueprint he would soon come up with would remain a lasting legacy to those who would in future fit into the shoes he now wears.

Igbo cultural heritage

There is no doubt that Ohaneze has continued to play crucial roles in the development and history of the Igbo community since it was established in 1976. But even in the face of its acknowledged achievements, Ohaneze has continued to face various challenges. Ironically, one of the major criticisms is that the organization has not always effectively represented the interests of Igbo people. Some critics argue that Ohaneze has become enmeshed in Nigeria’s political webs, and consequently failed to stay focused on its original mission. Furthermore, internal disagreements, leading to divisions within its circle of leaderships have been a source of concern to many pundits, creating doubts about the organization's ability to truly unify the Igbo community.

If truth be told, however, it is common knowledge that since the years that followed its inauguration, Ohaneze has copiously metamorphosed into a prominent voice for the Igbo community in Nigeria, advocating for Igbo peoples’ interests and fostering unity among its diverse members.

Concerned about the historical trajectory of Ohaneze, its achievements, challenges, and above all, the potential future it wields in Nigeria’s complex socio-political arena, Chief Emeka Asinugo who was on vacation in Nigeria had this encounter with the contemporary President-General, Chief Sir Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at his home.

Chief Iwuanyanwu traced the roots of Ohaneze back to the ugly experiences that attended the Igbo tribe during and after the 1967 – 1970 Nigerian civil war which gravely impacted on the community. Psychologically, socially and economically, the war left a deep scar on Igbo people. In response to the need for a unified front to address the challenges that faced the Igbo tribe after the civil war, Ohaneze Ndigbo was formed in 1976 with the assistance of Professor Ben Nwabueze, an erudite constitutional legal luminary who became the pioneer Secretary-General of Ohaneze and Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani, Anambra State. Professor Nwabueze died in his Lagos apartment at about 4.00 p.m. on Sunday, 29 October 2023, aged 94.

The organization he pioneered aimed to promote the welfare of Igbo people, foster national integration, and protect Igbo cultural heritage. Over the years, Ohaneze made significant contributions within the socio-political landscape of not only the southeastern states but also of Nigeria. For instance, the organization has remained instrumental in advocating for the inclusion of Igbo people in the national discourse to promote peace and reconciliation, addressing such issues as marginalization in jobs and government top offices, tribal discrimination among the Fulani, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba and restructuring of Nigeria in its present context so that concentration of economic and political authority would move from Abuja to regional or state capitals. Ohaneze has also played a key role in supporting the education of Igbo youths and the empowerment of Igbo women.

Professor Ben Nwabueze

Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu observed that as long as Nigeria continued to grapple with its complex socio-political challenges, the role of Ohaneze would remain crucial. The President-General says the organization has begun to address contemporary challenges within the Igbo community worldwide, determined to still stay true to its core mission. Future prospects for Ohaneze Ndigbo will of course hinge on the ability of the organisation to navigate political complexities, foster trust and unity among Igbo people, and effectively advocate for their interests both in Nigeria and in the global arena.

Ohaneze at this time stands at crossroads, with its historical legacy and future prospects intertwined. As Nigeria continues its journey towards a more inclusive and united nation, Ohaneze has the potential to play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the Igbo tribe. By addressing internal challenges, staying true to its founding principles and wisely adapting to Nigeria’s evolving socio-political scenarios, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu plans to superintend over an Ohaneze Ndigbo that can remain a powerful force for the development and well-being of the Igbo community in Nigeria.

To secure its future relevance, Ohaneze under the credible leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu would be focusing on inclusive leadership, transparent governance, and strategic partnerships with other ethnic groups and organizations. Additionally, the organization will actively engage with the younger generation to ensure that their concerns and aspirations are adequately represented. Together, Iwuanyanwu says, Ndigbo will gently and surely rise to their challenges.

Emeka Asinugo is a London-based veteran journalist, author, and publisher of Rolu Business Magazine (Website: https://rolultd.com)