Igbo socio-cultural apex group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide will on Wednesday,March 27, hold a retreat with the theme, “Ako bu ije “at the Old Government Lodge, Abakiliki Road, GRA, Enugu,to address issues affecting the Igbo people
Statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, and made available to newsmen in Enugu recently , said the former military Governor of the Old Anambra and the Old Imo States; and the former Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Admiral Allison Amaechina Madueke will be the Chairman of the event.
The group said need for an Igbo Retreat has become very imperative in view of the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria as they affect the Igbo..
According to the statement , the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is committed to lift Ohanaeze from its present provenance to a glorious and enviable pedestal where it can harness the Igbo natural endowments and creative potentials for the benefits of Igbo land in particular and the entire Nigeria in general.
“The Igbo Leader laments that those virtues and values which were the Igbo characteristics are fast evanescing. Iwuanyanwu recalls the group resourcefulness, team spirit, entrepreneurship, tenacity and resilience that placed the Michael Okpara administration as the fastest developing economy in Africa.
“The Igbo Leader explained that time has come for the Igbo to reflect deeply on how to transform the Igbo land into a tourist and investment destination. He enthused that all the human and material resources that are required to develop the Igboland are within us and that we only need to give them direction and momentum to achieve the desired goals”, Ogbonnia said.
According to him, Iwuayanwu has set up some committees that will help to drive the Ohanaeze transcendental vision to a reality. The Committees include the Education Trust Fund; Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition; Committee on Business Leaders; Culture and Tradition; Reconciliation and Peace Building, and a Committee on the Diaspora.
The Chairman of the Education Trust Fund is Professor Chinedu Nebo with Dr. Ezechi Chukwu as the Secretary while 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 Traditional Rulers Council of Igbo States are members of the Committee on Culture and Tradition.
The former Governor of Anambra State and former Minister for Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige
is the Chairman of the Committee on Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition with Dr. Peter Mbam as the Secretary.
The Committee on Business Leaders is chaired by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa with the Chairman of the ABC Transport, Chief Frank Nneji as the Secretary.
The committee on the Diaspora is headed by Dr. Sam Obaji with Dr. Barr. Peter Aneke as the Secretary. The Committee on Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria is headed by Dr. Domnic Nnaemeka Okechukwu, amongst others.
The Retreat will feature paper presentations by eminent scholars and accomplished technocrats. Professor Okey Ikechukwu is 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 Agriculutural 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 Host Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State; the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, HE, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON; 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, the Governor of Ebonyi State; the Igbo senators, Members of the House of Representatives; the Members of the Ohanaeze Presidential Advisory Council, Association of Town Unions led by Chief Emeka Ndiwe and other dignitaries were expected to be in attendance.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama