National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has constituted a standing cultural committee headed by the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe.
Chairmen of traditional rulers’ council in the rest of Igbo states are members.
The core mandate of the committee is to harmonise various aspects of Igbo culture, particularly the Iri Ji (New Yam) festival with a view to having common cultural calendar.
National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to newsmen on the highlights of the NEC meeting presided by the President General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, at the national secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu, on Tuesday, said the harmonisation would not only stem the bastardisation of some facets of Igbo culture but also enhance the preservation and promotion of their heritage.
“The committee is to harmonise certain aspects of the Igbo culture, especially the Iri Ji. It is discovered that every community has its Iri Ji and groups too. We want to see how we can bring all the sub-cultures into one when it comes to Iri Ji and make it a festival, where within that period, every part of Igbo land will come for Iri Ji,” Ogbonnia said.
Under its former president general, Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaeze had muted the idea of harmonising traditional marriage, burial and other aspects of Igbo culture.
The NEC also constituted a local organising committee for the staging of 2023 Igbo Day in Enugu, headed by the President of Enugu State chapter, Fred Ezeh, with Ogbonnia as one of the members.
This year’s Igbo Day celebration would hold on September 29.
In addition, the Ohanaeze NEC reviewed the funding system of the apex Igbo body and resolved to adopt a creative digital fund-raising mechanism that would enable Igbo people from across the globe contribute to its purse through the internet.
After a presentation by experts, it was agreed that this would boost Ohanaeze’s financial base and make the organisation to be more independent since it would no longer depend on anybody, groups or state governors for funding.
However, the NEC condemned as most reprehensible the continued use of Ohanaeze brand name for devious purposes by some recalcitrant Igbo youths, especially the sustained attack on Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, by one Igboayaka Igboayaka.
