Ogbako Ndi Igbo UK (ONIUK), the umbrella union for Igbo Communities in the United Kingdom was recently hosted by one of its affiliate unions, Nzuko Ndi Igbo Dundee, Scotland. The event, held on July 29, 2023, served as a general meeting of Ogbako Ndi Igbo UK, offered a platform for all affiliate unions in the UK to come together and discuss the imminent challenges of Igbo people in Nigeria and brainstorm on how to advance development in Ala Igbo and Nigeria.

Addressing the delegates from the various Igbo communities in the UK, the president of Ogbako Ndi Igbo UK (ONIUK) Dr Jude Eze, explained that ONIUK as a pacesetter in Igbo unity and development in the United Kingdom has set up various committees which are working on the different aspects of our collective challenges in Igbo land. He encouraged all affiliate Igbo unions and well-meaning Igbo citizen in UK and environs to ensure that they have representatives within these committees – Education and Youth Development Committee, Mobilization and Project Committee, Legal committee, to mention but a few.

The meeting provided a platform for very weighty discussions particularly on the issues that have laced the Igbo communities in Nigeria. Dr Daisy Nwaozuzu, Vice President, Ogbako Ndi Igbo UK and Chairperson of the Education and Youth Empowerment Committee, a report on the activities of her committee. She revealed the decline in the economic, educational, and social advancement that has engulfed the Igbo communities in Nigeria.

Dr Daisy Nwaozuzu She noted that the skill gap in the eastern part of Nigeria (where the Igbo people are domiciled), particularly in STEM and Vocational skills which has continued to widen with a complete loss of interest by the youth due to the hardship in the land. She reiterated that the need to develop and nurture these skills has become eminent and advised Ndi Igbo on the need to empower our youth in a bid to improve our economy. Some of the projects of the Education and Youth Empowerment committee includes plans to improve the learning of our Igbo language overseas, support to indigent but high achieving students in Ala Igbo in the form of Educational Scholarship and vocational initiatives to empower our youth in Ala Igbo.

News Express reports that in recent past, ONIUK has contributed meaningfully towards supporting the Eastern Nigeria by providing both financial and material assistance to the neglected people of the region and had also been a voice of the voiceless on matters affecting its citizens. Some of the recent projects carried out by the organisation include:

1.Flood Disaster Relief Project in Ogbaru in Anambra State

2.Food and cash donations to Uzuakoli Leprosy Centre in Abia State

3.Food and cash donations to Biafran soldiers’ rehabilitation Centre in Oji River in Enugu State

4.Financial donation to Ochanja Relief Market during the fire outbreak in Anambra in 2019

5.Food and cash donations to Motherless babies Homes in various locations in Ala Igbo

There are many more projects lined up by ONIUK for the remainder of this year and next year including scholarships for high achieving STEM students in Alaigbo and Igbo Language proficiency training.

The general meeting was well attended by delegates across the UK who represented their various local Igbo Unions. These unions include Igbo Community London (ICL), Igbo Union Yorkshire, Igbo Community Manchester, Ndi Igbo Newcastle, Igbo Community Oxford, Igbo Union Essex, and Igbo Community Swindon.

The President of Nzuko Ndi Igbo Dundee, Barrister Philip Enwegbara, who had earlier welcomed Ogbako ndi Igbo UK and its delegates to Dundee – the warmest part of Scotland, urged all Igbo citizens in the UK to support the activities of Ogbako ndi Igbo UK in the development of Ala Igbo. As part of his closing remarks, he thanked all representatives of Igbo unions in the UK that attended the general meeting and reiterated his resolve and commitment in moving the Igbo agenda forward within his local community.