Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a ...

socio-cultural organization in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. The group aims to represent the interests of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria. Although the group is not a political party, one of its main objectives is to foster unity among its members in order to more effectively represent the political interests of Igbos in Nigeria.

History

The Igbo State Union, the precursor to the Ohanaeze Igbo, was founded in 1934 by Igbo elites and intellectuals to advance the interests of Igbos in what was then the

Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain a ...

ruled by the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

. After the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom and the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...

, hundreds of prominent Igbos convened to unify Igbos under a new umbrella organization, the Igbo National Assembly (INA). This organization was later banned by the Nigerian military dictatorship, from fears that the existence of the organization would promote Igbo separatism. Thus, a successor pan-Igbo organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was formed in 1976 by Professor Ben Nwabueze, a constitutional lawyer. The organization was supported by Kingsley Mbadiwe, Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Dr. Pius Okigbo, and Chief Jerome Udorji (who served as the first Secretary General), among other notable Igbos.

Current National Executive Committee

* Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwanyanwu — President General *Dr Kingsley Lawrence — Deputy President General *Elder Barr. Onuoha Udeka (rtd)2 — Vice President General (Abia) *Chief Damian Okeke Ogene — Vice President General (Anambra) *DR. Sylvanus O. Ebigwei, MON. — Vice President General (Delta) *Prof. Chigozie N. Ogbu, OFR — Vice president-General (Ebonyi) *Hon. Igochukwu Okparanma — Vice President—General (Rivers) *Chief Okey Emuchay — Secretary-General *Dr. Solomon N. Ogunji — Deputy Secretary-General *Ojogu Joseph Obinama — National Legal Adviser *Eze Beatrice — National Treasurer *Chief Chief Alphonsus Duru — National Financial Secretary *Dr Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia — National. Publicity Secretary *Chief Eric Ebeh — Asst. Nat. Treasurer *Chief Barr. Okeagu Ogadah — Assistant National Legal Adviser *Elder Chris Eluemunoh — Asst. Nat. Fin. Secretary * — Asst. National Pub. Secretary *Elder Justice R.C. Ajuzieogu — State President (Abia) *Chief Damian Okeke (Ogene) — State President (Anambra) *Chief Emeka Festus Ogwu — State President (Delta) *Comrade Boniface Offor — State President (Ebonyi) *Chief Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia — State President (Enugu) *Dr. Ezechi Chukwu — State President (Imo) *Igo Okparanma (VPG Rivers) — Ag. State President *Eugene Ibeabuchi — Admin. Secretary

References

External links

* * * * {{Igbo topics Igbo society Organizations established in 1976 1976 establishments in Nigeria Cultural organizations based in Nigeria