The sixth edition of the World Igbo Summit rolls off the ground today (Friday, December 18, 2020) at the Goodluck Jonathan Auditorium of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU) in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr Romanus Umeh, told newsmen that Igbo Presidency (Nigerian President of Igbo extraction) and Restructuring would top the agenda of crucial issues to be discussed at the Summit by top Igbo leaders who would assemble at Gregory University for the three-day Summit, during which the outgoing President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, would be honoured by GUU for his outstanding performance as a leader of the Igbo nation.

The sixth World Igbo Summit is being organised by the World Igbo Summit Group, the Igbo Renaissance Centre, Gregory University, Uturu and leaders of the Igbo Collectives.

The theme of the Summit is “Enduring Future for Ndigbo: Expectation and Challenges”, which according to Umeh, “has been designed to suit the prevailing state of the Igbo nation.”

Briefing newsmen at the Senate Chamber of the University, Umeh who is the Head of Department of International Relations at GUU said that the Summit “will x-ray the historic and contemporary realities in Nigeria: impact of COVID-19 pandemic; #ENDSARS phenomenon and its resetting agenda on the socio-economic and political landscape of Nigeria,” adding that the gathering would “will also enable Ndigbo to envision strategic agenda upon which the development of the Igbo nation and indeed, Nigeria, will be based.”

The University Don noted that the quest by Ndigbo to produce the next President of Nigeria was based on justice, stating that the all-important Igbo gathering would provide the Igbo race “the opportunity to harmonize their views and gain sharper perspectives on the trending issue of Igbo Presidency, which is the other way of calling for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.”

“In all of the arguments for, and against this legitimate quest of Ndigbo, the central issue is justice. We believe that equity and justice should speak for us, and when they do, as they are doing at the moment in many fora and through various voices, the rest of Nigeria and had better listen,” he said.

“Related to this is the equally crucial issue of restructuring. Unfortunately, many have in the effort to shot down the subject and delete it completely from the consciousness of the people, given all manners of meanings and interpretations, designed to clothe it in a garb that suggests divisiveness.

“No, those who sincerely want to understand what restructuring represents, only need to return to Nigeria’s Republican Constitution which was close to fiscal federalism in which devolution of power and resource control held sway,” Umeh added, stressing that the regions experienced rapid growth during that era.

According to him, decisions reached at the summit would be made available to the public through a communiqué.

He added that President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, would be honoured for his sterling performance while his tenure lasted.

“In all of these, the outgoing President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the irreplaceable Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has towered above all others in placing the Igbo positions at the front burner of national and international discourse.

“For all he has done to advance the Igbo cause and course during his Presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and in order to make the point that patriotism has its rewards, the Senate of Gregory University, Uturu, has approved that this consummate Igboman from Ukehe in Enugu State who has shone like a million stars, be honoured in the course of this summit. And so, a special convocation would be held to honour him with an honorary Doctorate Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy,” Umeh explained.

L-R: Mr. Sleek Igwo, Deputy Registrar, Media, GUU; Dr Romanus Umeh, and Dr Steve Nwaimo, Bursar, GUU

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