Ohanaeze Ndigbo Holds Retreat in Enugu
Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyawnu, PG, Ohanaeze Ndigbo World wide
Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide Holds Retreat in Enugu
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is pleased to announce the hosting of a strategic retreat at the Old Government Lodge, Abakiliki Road, GRA, Enugu on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
The retreat, with the theme Ako Bu Ije, will be chaired by the former Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Armed Forces, Admiral Allison Amaechina Madueke, GCON, who also was the former Military Governor of the Old Anambra and the Old Imo States.
According to a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the retreat is called to chart a new united progressive course for the Igbos amidst the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria.
The Chief host of the retreat is His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State; while the co-hosts include the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, HE, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, Governor of Imo State; HE, Professor Charles Soludo, CFR, the Governor of Anambra State; HE, Chief Alex Otti, OFR, the Governor of Abia State; HE Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State. All Igbo Senators, Members of the House of Representatives; Members of the Ohanaeze Presidential Advisory Council, Association of Town Unions led by Chief Emeka Ndiwe, and many other invited dignitaries will be in attendance.
The statement noted that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR; OFR; CFR (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), is committed to lifting the status of Ohanaeze from its present provenance to a glorious pedestal to harness the Igbo natural endowments and creative potentials of the people for the benefits of Igbo land in particular and Nigeria in general.
The Igbo Leader lamented that the virtues and values which were characteristic Igbos are fast eroding, particularly among the younger generation. Chief Iwuanyanwu recalls with an emotional nostalgia the group resourcefulness, team spirit, entrepreneurship, tenacity, and resilience with which Dr. Michael Okpara administered the old Eastern Region to make it the fastest developing economy in Africa, in the 60s.
The Igbo Leader explained that the time has come for the Igbo to reflect deeply on ways to transform the Igbo land into a tourist and investment destination. He enthused that all the human and material resources required to develop Igboland were within the people, but only needed direction and momentum to achieve the desired goals.
As part of his visionary steps to reposition and redirect the Ohanaeze Organization, Chief Iwuanyanwu in October 2023, set up specialized committees to drive his vision to reality. The Committees include the Education Trust Fund, chaired by a seasoned scholar and former Minister for Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, with Dr. Ezechi Chukwu as the Secretary. Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition is chaired by His Excellency, Senator Chris Ngige, the former Governor of Anambra State and former Minister for Labour and Productivity, with Dr. Peter Mbam as the Secretary.
The Committee for Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria is headed by Dr. Domnic Nnaemeka Okechukwu, with Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Ibekwe, as the Secretary; while the Committee on the Diaspora is headed by Dr. Sam Obaji with Dr. Barr. Peter Aneke as the Secretary.
The Committee on Business Leaders is chaired by the renowned industrialist and Chairman of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, with Chief Frank Nneji, Chairman of ABC Transport, as the Secretary. The Committee on Culture and Tradition is headed by His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, (Agbogidi) the Obi of Onitsha with Chief Mike Nnakwuzie as the Secretary. The Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council of Igbo States are also members of the Committee on Culture and Tradition.
The Chairman of the Committee on the Ohanaeze Retreat, and the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR informed that the retreat will feature paper presentations by eminent scholars and accomplished technocrats. For instance, Professor Okey Ikechukwu will be the Lead paper presenter. Others include Professor Nnenna Oti, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri will speak on Education: Technological Innovations and Entrepreneurship in Igbo land; Dr. Nnaemeka Obiaraeri will speak on Agricultural Development and Food Sufficiency in Igbo land; Professor Maurice Iwu will deliver a paper on Health Care: Harnessing the Potentials in Igbo Traditional Medicine. Monsignor Professor Obiora Ike will speak on Re-orientation of Values –A Panacea to Insecurity in Igbo Land.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo is being repositioned under the leadership of Chief Iwuanyawu to give all Igbos the pride of identity to enable them to participate effectively, in the overall development of Nigeria.
