The month of December is special for many people all over the world, because of the Christmas celebrations it brings. However in Nigeria, the month is unique for the Igbos of the Southeast geopolitical zone. It is usually a season that brings a lot of journeying and holidaying experience for the people.
It is a time when huge festivals, dancing and carnivals take centre stage in towns and villages; and eating, drinking, and all other manners of thrills; exchange of gifts and visits amongst individuals and groups are highly recorded.
As preparations build up, Daily Independent investigation showed that more vehicles and more goods are already heading towards the South East from other parts of the country. Many houses are wearing new looks, the markets are recording huge crowds, and expectations are high amongst the people.
In Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, expectations are also high as the people eagerly await the visit of some Igbo groups to the town. Among the groups being expected is Oganiru Ndigbo, with its Internet, Facebook arm – Igboville, which would be holding its retreat “Enyimba 2013 Retreat” in the Enyimba city.
A recent visit to the town revealed that the people are already in high spirit as they await the arrival of the collection of Nigerian professionals of Igbo extraction that constitute group for the meeting which promises to be grand. News making the rounds is that the group, whose membership includes experts in the medical profession, would be putting offering free medical services for the people of the town. It is a move most appreciated by a lot of people who have got wind of it.
Speaking to Daily Independent, some of the respondents were appreciative believing that it would help in a great way to cushion the effect of the current nationwide strike embarked by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). An Aba resident, Chukwuma Uka, who is a shoemaker by trade, while confirming that members of the group visited his shop at Ariara Market, to sensitise them on what to expect, disclosed that they were bringing medical festival to the city.
Some members of the Retreat Committee revealed that Oganiru Ndigbo, were on a mission of organising 15 medical services personnel, who are specialists in different fields of medicine for the event.
Chin Akano
Chin Akano
Led by United Kingdom based medical doctor, Chin Akano, the medical personnel from Nigeria and the Diaspora (all of Igbo origin) will participate in the fiesta during which they will offer free medical consultancy as well as prescribe and issue free drugs, optical frames, dental health support services, free diagnosis, blood pressure checks, and several other medical services to the people.
Chairman of the group’s Planning Committee, John Okiyi Kalu, said the intention was to hugely give back to the community that will host them during their December retreat in the town, especially those of them, who have been at the receiving end both social and economic engagements of the well-to-do, and could not afford such medical attention and facilities as would be provided.
He however said the medical team would refer patients with surgical cases or requiring long term care to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) at Aba, with generous support from the medical mission team. Members of the medical team further told Daily Independent that they would donate materials to ABSUTH at the end of the mission scheduled to hold on December 28, 2013 at Luxury City Hotel Aba. He used the opportunity to invite all residents of Aba to come out and take advantage of the program.
Okoyi said the medical mission “is part of activities lined up by the number one online Igbo group made up of thousands of Igbo professionals from across the globe for their annual retreat tagged Enyimba 2013”.
In an interview with Daily Independent, Akano, the head of the medical team, said that everyone in the locality was invited, adding that his team had the capacity to handle every medical challenge the people would bring.
His words: “Any patient in the locality is free to come. We are not going to drive anyone away. We have nurses who will speak with them first to find out what problems they have. If the problem is within the scope of the mission we deal with it. But then if it is not, we are going to give them advice and refer them where to go”.
The theme of this year’s Retreat is “The Igbo Family” and will feature presentations by selected Igbo sons and daughters including a special “Ime Obi” presentation by Colonel Ben Gbulie. On the other hand, the key note address entitled “Family Business in Igbo Land: A Case for Modernisation” would be presented by renowned banker, strategist and multiple award winner, Prof Herbert Orji. Other speakers include eminent Igbo historian, Prof Catherine Acholonu, Chief (Barr) Maxi Okwu of APGA, International Media Consultant Mazi Kelechi Deca, Emma Maduabuchi of Daily Independent Newspapers, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Secretary to Abia State Government, Mrs. Mary Ikokwu of “Working Mum” fame as well as Prof Kalu Uche.
This year’s Retreat, the Enyimba Retreat, is expected to culminate in a courtesy visit to His Excellency, Executive Governor of Abia State, Ochendo TA Orji, where members will formally present the retreat communiqué to him as well as interact with him and key members of his government.
According to Okiyi, Oganiru Ndigbo/Igboville were established to strategise and work for ways of improving Ndigbo and there way of life. Igboville, a major online Igbo group is a non governmental organisation (NGO) and not for profit organisation (NFPO) made up of thousands of Igbo professionals whose interest is to make Igbo progress socially, technology, financially and otherwise.
Oganiru Ndigbo on the other hand is the physical aspect of Igboville through which members of the group impact physically on the needs of the people, and it has been doing just that.
It is to be recalled that Igboville members had during the early days of Boko Haram terrorist activities, offered free buses to evacuate Igbos resident in the North. At that time also, members of the group in the United Kingdom organised a protest march to the British Parliament and 10 Downing Street, demanding an end to the genocide against their Ndigbo people. Added to that, they also demanded an immediate end to all forms of bloodletting in the country, in which any specific ethnic or religious group in the country is the target.
The group was also involved in the sending of relief materials to Anambra flood victims and have always intervened in helping Igbos in distress at various times and in various places. It is currently planning international scholarship for the two Imo whiz kids who made and successfully launched a rocket in Imo State recently.
The group is self-funded and has no political affiliation. It seeks to protect Igbo interests and support the leaders of Igbo land to deliver best value to Ndigbo to enable them compete well in Nigeria, and in the Global environment. Its members also actively review national and international events and offer suggestions and policy alternatives to Igbo leaders at all levels. It is affiliated to Ohaneze Ndigbo and also gives support to other Igbo groups and organisations.
Responding to questions on the formation of the group, the founder, Emeka Maduewesi said what they had in mind was to replicate the wonderful works Igbo Union did for Ndigbo before and after the country’s independence. He gave an example with the building of Igbo Union Schools in Northern when it became difficult for children of Ndigbo to enter secondary schools in the Northern parts of the country. “What we tried to do is to replicate what the Igbo State Union did for Ndigbo in the 1950s and 1960s and even during the war” he said.
Maduewesi said the two previous retreats held at Afikpo and Nnewi respectively provided a unique opportunity for Igbos of different age strata to come together under one umbrella and talk on issues concerning and affecting them. “Its unlike what we use to see with Ohaneze meetings where you have elderly people, it is not like youth club. But a meeting of every professional; every strata of age grade in Igbo land was represented. It has never happened before for young people and old people to have the mindset of uniting Ndigbo,” he noted.
Maduewesi further expressed strong believe that the group was in the right track as it was trying to bring Ndigbo together, make them study their history, and to fashion out their future. “You must take your future in your hand and conquer it. If you don’t conquer your future, you continue to live in fear” he concluded.
