On August 27, 1994 in Houston, TX the first Conference of Ndi Igbo in North America took place under the auspices of the Igbo People’s Congress. Almost seventy Ndi Igbo gathered together at that meeting. They came from the east, the west, the north and the south of the United States. Among them were Atty. Ken Okorie, Dr. J.O.S. Okeke, Dr. Lucius Akuchie, (These three were the chief conveners), Atty. Charles Onyirimba, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Dr. Richard Nwachukwu, Dr. Ejike Nibo, Chief Boniface Ezechukwu, Ebube Odunukwe, and George Udeozor. This signified the birth of the World Igbo Congress. The main objective of these patriots was to establishment of a credible and unified voice for Ndi Igbo outside Nigeria. The motivation was precipitated by the plan of the then Nigerian dictator, General Sani Abacha, to put in place a national constitutional conference to draw up a new constitution for the nation. These patriots thought that the Igbo needed a strong representation and decided to assist the fledgling apex Igbo Organization on the ground – Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.
Some of the inaugural participants, culled out of the list of donors are:
The affairs of WIC has been piloted over the years by the following
1. 1994 – 1999: Dr. J.O. Okeke (Chairman) Atty. Ken Okorie (Secretary-General)
2. 1999 – 2001: Chief Austin Egwuonwu (Chairman) Dr. Luke Azubike (Sec.-General)
3. 2001 – 2005: Dr. Kalu Kalu Diogu (Chairman) Atty. Austin Uzodike (Sec.-General)
4. 2005 – 2008: Ichie Chibuzor Onwuchekwe (Chairman) Atty. Charles Chikezie (Secretary-General-G)
5. 2008 – 2012 Interregnum
6. 20012 – Date Joe Nze Eto (Chairman) Chief Cyril Nwaguru (Secretary-General)
Please see the slideshow of these fine patriots below this.
As dire as the situation was at the time of inception of WIC, the Igbo are even in more dire straits at this time. We are talking of all manners of injustice against the Igbo in Nigeria which has become exacerbated by the wanton cycles of killing of the Igbo in Nigeria and the uncertainties of another national conference. The Igbo can still save himself. It is no wonder that the World Igbo Congress has planned to hold its 20th anniversary celebrations. It will be a mixture of entertainment and the sobriety of finding solutions for the task ahead of the Igbo.
You can’t afford not to be there. Please click below to register
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