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Ohanaeze laments marginalisation, Buhari says Igbo control economy

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5 years ago

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The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has lamented that the people of the South-East are marginalised in Nigeria’s governance structure.

Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, who said this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday, noted that the fact that the Igbo were scattered all over Nigeria and were successful in business should not be a reason for the current regime to deny them their share in the governance structure of the country.

He spoke in response to the remarks by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who was on a one-day visit to Imo State, that the people of the South-East were enterprising and in charge of the country’s economy.

At a town hall meeting with Igbo leaders in Owerri, Buhari stated, “The fundamental thing about the Igbo people is that there is no town you will visit in Nigeria without seeing them being in charge of either the infrastructure or the pharmaceutical industry.

“Therefore, it is unthinkable for me that any Igbo man will consider himself not to be a part of Nigeria. The evidence is there for everyone to see that the Igbo are in charge of Nigeria’s economy.”

In his response, Ogbonnia noted that though the Igbo remained an entrepreneurial set of people, they were still neglected.

He stated, “The Igbo are marginalised in governance structure of this country; it is very clear and self-evident. There is no doubt about it and Buhari himself knows it. But what he said, which is true, is that everywhere you go in Nigeria, you are likely to find an Igbo man in one trade or managing buildings or things like that. So, that is true; but one must know that this is under self-enterprise.

“That is Igbo tenacity for survival and self- enterprise. It is entirely a different ball game. So, the marginalisation we are talking about is in governance structure; the injustice we are talking about is in governance structure.

“You cannot because they are an enterprising set of people deny them their fair share in the governance structure of this country.”

Igbo not secessionists, says Obiozor

Earlier in Owerri during the President’s visit, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, said contrary to the claim in some quarters, Igbo people were not secessionists.

Obiozor urged Buhari to ensure that Igbo youths being held in various detention facilities by security agents were released.

He said Ndigbo would continue to be part of Nigeria as long as there was justice in the country.

He said, “After all Nigeria has gone through in its nearly 60 years’ chequered history of crises and continuity, and the spectacular patriotic role of Ndigbo to ensure its unity and survival, the consistent perception that the Igbo are separatists and secessionist agitators is a historical fallacy.

“Indeed, if the truth must be told, Ndigbo are the most federating unit among all Nigerian citizens. Generally speaking, anywhere in Nigeria you don’t find the Igbo, run away; something is wrong there. Igbo are market people and travel adventurers.

“Consequently, what defines the Igbo character are the propensity for friendliness and harmonious peaceful coexistence and spirit of universalism of mankind. This is who we are. Our Igbo adage says, ‘Ojemba enweghi iro’, which literally translates to: ‘A traveller makes no enemy’.

“Also, another misconception of Ndigbo is that they cannot speak with one voice; ironically, that is another fallacy. The Igbo spirit defies conditions that are obstacles for the expression of their individual or group opinion. This sense of egalitarianism is what defines the Igbo system of governance based on liberal democracy and social justice.

“Mr President, in spite of all the threats of secession or separatism facing the country, there is no doubt that no secessionist element can succeed in Nigeria provided there is good governance based on equity, justice and fairness to all the citizens.”

Igbo leaders in Owerri to welcome Buhari

Meanwhile, the cream of the Igbo leadership converged on Owerri to join Governor Hope Uzodimma to welcome the President.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, were physically present, while the other governors in the South-East were represented as Buhari inaugurated four strategic projects executed by the Uzodimma administration.

The President, who arrived in Owerri to a rousing reception, said he was impressed with the quality of jobs executed by the Uzodimma administration.

Among the projects inaugurated by the President were the Ihiagwa/Nekede/Obinze Road, the Ballon underground tunnel to check flooding in Owerri and the Egbeada Bypass Road.

Church attendant shot, activities paralysed in Anambra

In Anambra State, the visit of President Buhari to Imo State had ripple consequences as there were pockets of violence in some parts of the state by the enforcers of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s sit-at-home order.

In Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, gunmen were said to have shot dead an occupant of a vehicle, who was returning from a church service.

In a viral video, a voice was heard warning people who defied the IPOB order to have a rethink or be ready to face the consequences.

A trader at the Onitsha Main Market told one of our correspondents on the telephone that he complied with the order because of the fear of attack.

“IPOB has instilled fear in everybody, not only in Anambra, but the entire South-East,” he stated.

Commercial activities in the state were crippled as a result of the compliance with the sit-at-home order by the IPOB to register their disapproval of the President’s visit to the South-East.

Though IPOB later denied ordering the sit-at-home, socio-economic activities in the state were halted.

Banks, shops, markets, motor parks, government establishments and allied institutions were shut down.

At Agulu in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, a commercial motorcycle was set ablaze for operating.

In a video that when viral, a voice was heard telling people to learn from the incident.

The speaker, who spoke in Igbo, said, “When we ask people to stay at home in their own interest, they will continue to disobey our order.

“Those of you, who doubt us and try to test our will, should learn from this incident. We have burnt this motorcycle and chased away those old women, who came to the market to sell rubbish.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was only aware of the violent attack at Oko in the Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

Owerri deserted, civil servants abscond from work

However, Owerri, the Imo State capital, was a shadow of its former self on Thursday as Buhari visited the state.

One of our correspondents, who monitored the situation in the town, observed that banks, schools, markets and malls were shut.

The state secretariat complex located at New Owerri was a ghost town as civil servants absented themselves from work.

While the city was militarised, Ikenegbu, Mbari, Douglas, the Imo State University junction, Control Post, Wethedral Road, Warehouse junction and others were empty.

The media noticed security operatives patrolling the town in Armoured Personnel Carriers.

Shops, filling stations, markets shut down in Ebonyi

Also, in Ebonyi State, economic activities were paralysed as shops, markets, filling stations and other business premises were shut down in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The PUNCH observed that gates of bank branches in different locations in the town were under lock and key.

Okorocha, Kalu, others absent

Meanwhile, former governors of Imo and Abia states, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Orji Kalu, were prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East, who were absent during the President’s visit to Imo State.

Speaking on his absence from the event, Okorocha said the incumbent governor, Uzodimma, did not invite him to the occasion.

Okorocha’s media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Uzodimma and the state government were playing politics of hate, vendetta and intolerance.

Onwuemeodo stated that it was unfortunate that Uzodimma choose to ignore Okorocha when it was the former governor, who brought the APC to South-East and Imo State in particular.

Culled from the Punch News Nigeria

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Education

Professor Josephine Onyido Earns Prestigious Nigerian Academy of Education Induction

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4 days ago

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September 26, 2026

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University of Port Harcourt scholar will be inducted into Nigeria’s apex education academy in Abuja, marking another milestone in a career spanning teaching, research, leadership, mentorship and advocacy

HOUSTON, TEXAS — Professor Josephine Azuka Onyido, an accomplished scholar and academic leader at the University of Port Harcourt, will be inducted into the Nigerian Academy of Education on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of education.

The ceremony, scheduled for the Conference Hall of the National Commission for Colleges of Education in Abuja, places Onyido among scholars recognized for sustained contributions to education, research, and academic development in Nigeria.

A Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Port Harcourt, Onyido has built a career encompassing teaching, research, administration, mentorship, curriculum development, and institutional service.

She described the forthcoming recognition as both an honor and a renewed obligation to education. “I receive this recognition with profound gratitude and humility. My journey in education has always been driven by the belief that scholarship must extend beyond the classroom and contribute meaningfully to society. This induction is not simply a personal achievement; it strengthens my responsibility to continue advancing quality education, mentoring future scholars, and promoting opportunities for women and girls. I am deeply grateful to my family, colleagues, students, and everyone who has been part of this journey.”

Onyido earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education (English), a Master of Education, and a Ph.D. in Sociology of Education. She is also a permanent member of the University of Port Harcourt Senate. Her scholarly record includes more than 90 journal articles, book chapters and Sociology of Education Made Easy, a textbook developed to make concepts in the discipline more accessible to students.

Much of her research examines the intersection of education and society, with particular emphasis on gender, women’s empowerment, educational development, social justice and the rights of women and girls. Her work advocates translating academic research into policies and practices that expand educational opportunities and strengthen human-capital development.

Beyond research, Onyido has occupied several academic leadership positions. She served as Acting Head of the Department of Educational Foundations from 2021 to 2023 and has worked as the Departmental Coordinator of Postgraduate Programs, the Anti-Plagiarism Coordinator, the Academic Adviser, and the Editor of the Port Harcourt Journal of Education Studies.

Her influence also extends beyond her university. She has served as an external examiner for several institutions and has participated as a resource person for the National Teachers’ Institute, the University of Port Harcourt, the Centers for Higher Education and Sandwich Programs, and the National Universities Commission verification exercise.

Internationally, Onyido represented the Niger Delta Development Commission at the African Women in Leadership Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, expanding her engagement with issues of women’s leadership, empowerment, and social transformation.

She belongs to several professional organizations, including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Association of Sociologists of Education of Nigeria, and the International Association for Gender Equity.

Her academic and community work have earned numerous recognitions, including the Millennium Development Ambassador Award, Lecturer of the Year, Outstanding Project Supervisor, and Professional Service awards.

Yet Onyido’s story also reaches deeply into heritage and service. She is the great-great-granddaughter of King Josiah Constance Ockiya, MINGI VII, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and Supreme King of Brass. Her great-grandfather, Rev. Daniel Ockiya, translated the Bible into the Nembe language.

A committed Catholic and Jerusalem pilgrim, she has also served in church and community leadership positions and was recognized by the Catholic Women Organization of the Port Harcourt Diocese as a “Quintessential Woman.”

For Onyido, the November 4 induction represents more than another distinction on an extensive academic résumé. It recognizes a career built around an enduring principle: education achieves its greatest value when knowledge is transformed into opportunity, service, and social progress.

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Houston

PCNI Elevates Chief Dr. Emmanuel Opara to Patron in Historic Ihiagwa Investiture

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4 days ago

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September 26, 2026

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Sugar Land People’s Club leaders celebrate their First Vice Chairman’s December 22 investiture, describing the honor as recognition of leadership, scholarship, service, and commitment to the enduring ideals of the People’s Club

HOUSTON, TEXAS — All roads will lead to Ihiagwa, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, on December 22, 2026, as members, associates, and well-wishers of People’s Club of Nigeria International gather for the Patronship Investiture of Hon. Chief Dr. Emmanuel Uzoma Opara, First Vice Chairman of the Sugar Land People’s Club of Nigeria International (SLPCNI).

The ceremony will mark another milestone for the Sugar Land branch, historically recognized within the organization as its First International Branch, and will elevate one of its senior officers into the distinguished circle of PCNI patrons.

Since its inception in 1971, the People’s Club of Nigeria has developed into an international social and philanthropic organization with branches in Nigeria, the United States, and Europe. Its tradition emphasizes fellowship, community service, and the principles of Love, Unity, and Service.

Within that tradition, patronship carries significance beyond a ceremonial title. Patrons are expected to serve as senior advisers, custodians of institutional values, and respected voices in sustaining the organization’s heritage and direction. The recognition is traditionally associated with sustained service, leadership, and commitment to the Club and society.

For Opara, the honor also recognizes a professional life extending far beyond community leadership.

An academic and technology specialist, Opara’s scholarly interests span cybersecurity, digital and media forensics, artificial intelligence, and Agentic AI. His research includes digital forensic investigation, incident response and threat analysis, memory analysis, advanced-adversary containment and intrusion detection, including applications of Python programming.

His work also engages with memory forensics and investigative technologies, as well as the offensive and defensive dimensions of cybersecurity, commonly characterized as Red Team and Blue Team operations.

Opara is a Fellow of the International Information Management Association (FIIMA) and serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of International Technology and Information Management (JITIM).

Reflecting on the forthcoming investiture, Opara described the recognition as a responsibility rather than simply another distinction.

“I receive this honor with profound gratitude and humility. Patronship represents a responsibility to protect the values that have sustained People’s Club for generations: love, unity, service, and genuine fellowship. Whatever we achieve professionally becomes more meaningful when we use our knowledge, experience, and resources to strengthen our communities and create opportunities for others. I look forward to serving the Club at an even greater level.”

Grand Patron of SLPCNI, Hon. Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu, said Opara’s elevation reflects the leadership qualities expected of those entrusted with preserving the organization’s legacy. “Chief Dr. Opara represents the combination of intellectual accomplishment, community service, and organizational commitment that the People’s Club should continue to encourage. Patronship is not merely about recognition; it carries an obligation to guide, support and protect the institution. We are proud that another leader from our Sugar Land family has earned this important honor.”

Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman of SLPCNI, said the investiture demonstrates the depth of leadership within the Sugar Land branch. “This is a proud moment for Sugar Land People’s Club. Chief Dr. Opara has distinguished himself through service, scholarship, and dedication to our organization. His investiture strengthens our branch while reinforcing our connection to the national and international People’s Club family. We congratulate him and look forward to celebrating with him in Ihiagwa.”

The December gathering is expected to draw PCNI leaders, patrons, members, family, friends, and community representatives from Nigeria and abroad. Beyond the pageantry of the ceremony, however, Opara’s investiture carries a broader institutional message: leadership within the People’s Club is ultimately measured by service.

On December 22, Ihiagwa will host the celebration. But for Sugar Land, the occasion will also be a celebration of one of its own—a scholar, technology professional, and community leader entering a new chapter of responsibility in the People’s Club tradition.

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Houston

Membership Surge Continues as Dr. Nkem Ugwu Joins People’s Club

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1 week ago

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September 20, 2026

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Following a successful induction ceremony, the First International Branch continues to attract new members drawn to its tradition of friendship, service, culture, and community

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS — The Sugar Land People’s Club of Nigeria International (SLPCNI) is continuing its membership expansion following its recently concluded induction ceremony, with Dr. Nkem Ugwu becoming one of the latest community members to join the organization.

Ugwu, a Sugar Land resident originally from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, is an entrepreneur and mother of three sons, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. She describes service to others, family, and community engagement as important parts of her personal and professional life.

Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu addressing the September Conference of the Sugar Land PCNI

Her membership comes on the heels of the branch’s successful bi-annual induction ceremony, during which 16 new members were formally sworn in by PCNI National President Atty. Fidelis Onyebueke. The celebration attracted national leaders, patrons, and members representing branches from across the People’s Club network.

Photo from left: Hon. Chief Sir Michael Okeke; Hon. Anaeto Okakpu “Oranwezuluaku”; Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu; Hon. Dr. Nkem Ugwu ; Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman; Hon. Chief, Sir Basil Mbuba; Hon. Chief Sir Dr. Uche Egbuchuam “Akudo World Wide.”

Ugwu said joining the organization provides an opportunity to develop meaningful relationships while contributing to its mission.

“I am truly excited and honored to join the prestigious People’s Club of Nigeria International, Sugar Land Branch. I look forward to getting to know fellow members, building lasting friendships, and becoming actively involved in this vibrant and welcoming community. I am especially drawn to the Club’s tradition of fellowship, service, and mutual support, and I hope to contribute my experience, energy, and passion for serving others to its continued growth.”

Grand Patron Ide Obinna Nnanyelugo Mbachu welcomed Ugwu, describing continued interest in membership as encouraging for the historic First International Branch.

Membership Chairperson Hon. Chief Udoji Achebe and Hon. Ndidi Chidume

“When people of accomplishment and community spirit continue to identify with our organization, it tells us that the values upon which People’s Club was built remain relevant. We welcome Dr. Ugwu and look forward to the experience and fellowship she brings to our family.”

Hon. Prof. Chris Ulasi, Group Chairman, said the branch’s recent induction helped showcase an organization that continues to combine Nigerian cultural heritage with community engagement in Houston.

“Our successful induction created tremendous enthusiasm, but our focus goes beyond ceremonies. We are building a stronger organization rooted in friendship, responsibility and service. Dr. Ugwu’s decision to join reflects that continuing momentum.”

One of the meeting hosts, Hon. Professor Keih George, introduces the co-meeting hosts.

Membership Chairperson Hon. Chief Udoji Achebe said the branch remains interested in individuals prepared to participate actively in its programs and fellowship.

“Membership is about belonging, but it is equally about participation and contribution. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ugwu and other prospective members who share the principles and aspirations of People’s Club.”

For SLPCNI, the growing interest following its induction represents another chapter in the evolution of a branch with a special place in the organization’s history.

And for Ugwu, it marks the beginning of a new journey—one centered on friendship, community, and service.

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