Mbah Stresses Preservation of Igbo History, Culture as Okorocha Hands over New HQ Complex to Ohanaeze, October

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has stressed the need for the preservation of Igbo history and culture to avoid being eroded in this fast-changing world driven by hi-tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

He made the call while addressing newsmen after an inspection of the new headquarters complex of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide built by Senator Rochas Anayo Okorocha in Enugu. It would be formally handed over to Ndigbo next month by the donor.

Mbah who was received on arrival by Okorocha along with the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, inspected facilities in the imposing edifice. They were conducted round by Mrs. Uloma Rochas Nwosu, the Managing Director of Walsh Blanc, the firm handling the project.

He said he was delighted to see that a special location in the magnificent building was specially dedicated for the preservation of Igbo history, arts, culture and traditions in order “to remind us of how we all started”. 

“We are excited that a son of Igbo has inspired this edifice,” Mbah enthused, adding that Okorocha deserved to be commended for giving Ohanaeze Ndigbo a befitting headquarters in Enugu.

He noted that by this “remarkable” gesture by Senator Okorocha has reinforced the status of Coal City as the regional capital and homeland for all Igbo.

Mbah stated the new Ohanaeze headquarters “reminds us of the fact that, at a time like this, Ndigbo must come together” and join hands in advancing the development of their homeland. 

He urged Ndigbo to come together since “we’re from a common stock and there wouldn’t be a better time to continue to remind ourselves of being from that common stock than the time we are here (at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo headquarters). 
Since its formation in 1976, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation has been operating from antiquated Secretariat at Park Avenue Enugu, considered unfit for its status, but Okorocha has now come to the rescue.

Explaining his decision to single-handedly build and donate the new headquarters of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Senator Okorocha said that “Ohanaeze Ndigbo carries the aspirations of millions of us, and a body carrying that weight must sit somewhere equal to the task”.

“That is what this place is. When it is done, and in their hands, the question that matters is what we decide, in rooms like this one, about the next fifty years” of Ndigbo affairs, he added.

He recalled that seven years ago he had observed that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat “was not befitting enough, so I decided to take permission from Ohanaeze and put up this (new edifice)”.

Okorocha made it clear that “I’m not doing this because of advertisement of wealth or reach, or flamboyance. It is simply my heart speaking, a heart of love for my people, Ndigbo”.
The former Imo State governor stated that it is indisputable that “Ndigbo are a strong people in this country or anywhere else in the world we have gone (hence) my prayer has always been that our institutions would be as strong as our people”.

“The world is waiting for Ndigbo. If Nigeria must attain its height, Igbos have a contribution to make. Africa and the world await Ndigbo. Our problem has always been unity,” he said.

However, Okorocha gave the assurance that the hackneyed narratives about disunity was already waning, because “this edifice is the beginning of a singleness of heart. We shall do more to ensure that Ndigbo are united”.

The PG of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Mbata expressed eternal gratitude of the entire Igbo to Owelle Rochas Okorocha for enhancing the status of the apex socio-cultural organisation thereby demonstrating his love for the Igbo nation.

He said that “the beautiful and wonderful” new headquarters complex would stand as a legacy and reaffirm the commitment of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to protecting the interests and ideals of the Igbo people.
The MD of Walsh Blanc while interacting with newsmen after the walk-through, said that the inspiration for the design of the Ohanaeze edifice came from the brief from Okorocha, the sponsor of the project.

According to her, the briefing given to them was to create something that would give Ndigbo a sense of belonging, pride, unity and royalty, adding that it has been translated to a befitting edifice with appropriate facilities.

Mrs. Rochas Nwosu noted that Ohanaeze’s new headquarters complex was designed and built “to hold for the next 150 years and tell our children what the Igbo race is all about”.

She stated that the edifice has seven symbolic pillars, representing the seven Igbo-speaking states in Nigeria, adding that it was curated to also serve as tourist centre for Igbo history and culture.

The building sitting on 3,000sq metres space  has 11 offices, aside the office for the President General, with two auditoriums described as “the working heart of the building”. Raked seating and acoustic treatment were specified so that a full assembly can be held, heard and recorded properly without outside equipment being brought in. Between them, they give Ohanaeze Ndigbo the capacity to convene at scale on its own premises.

The library and the art space put the record of Ndigbo in the same building as the people making decisions on their behalf. The library is fitted for audiovisual reference as well as print, which allows oral history, recorded proceedings and archive film to be kept and consulted alongside documents.

The lower level is conceived as a working gallery rather than as storage, giving Igbo art, history and craft a permanent setting inside the institution.