BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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An apex umbrella of Igbo socio-cultural associations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday, held its inaugural meeting in Enugu with a firm commitment to unite Ndigbo together.
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To this end, the National Executive Council (NEC) led by the newly elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator Azuta Mbata has set up a peace, reconciliation and dispute committee to address conflicts within the pan-Igbo group.
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Addressing journalists shortly after the NEC meeting at Ohanaeze Ndigbo national secretariat, 7, Parks Avenue, GRA, Enugu, Dr Ezechukwu Ezechi, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, stated that the committee would be chaired by the former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo-Gary Igariwey.
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Ezechi noted that the Ex-President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Igariwey is expected to bring his experience to resolving lingering disputes.
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“The peace committee will investigate the causes of crisis within the organisation across various levels to ensure lasting reconciliation among all the various interest groups.
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“The executive council also adopted a working document and handover notes from the former President-General, Chief Ozichukwu Chukwu, to guide the new administration.”
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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Spokesman also disclosed that the NEC approved several committees to help the President-General, Senator Mbata provide effective and result-oriented leadership for the organisation.
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“Additionally, the council established a committee to launch a “professorial endowment chair” across the seven states of the South-East geopolitical zone.
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“This committee will focus on research and development in Igbo language, culture, and tradition to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Ndigbo.
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He stressed the importance of Igbos telling their own history, warning that without a structured mechanism, their language and traditions could face extinction.
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“If our language disappears, our worldview, belief system, and social life will also vanish,” Ezechi warned, urging collective efforts in cultural preservation.
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He highlighted that research outputs from the professorial endowment chair would be maximised to enhance academic scholarship on Igbo identity and heritage.
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“These outputs will serve as evidence of efforts to solidify the identity of Ndigbo within Nigeria’s socio-political landscape through academic and intellectual contributions,” he said.
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According to him, the committee will collaborate with Igbo language scholars and academics across various institutions to advance the study and preservation of the language.
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He also lauded the leadership of Mbata expressing confidence that his experience will bring a dynamic transformation to Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
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