The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide believes a virile, united and visionary youth wing of the group, is critical to building the Igboland of everyone’s dreams.
Ohaneze Ndigbo National Vice President, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene gave the view on Monday, when he played host to the Youth wing of the body led by its Acting National Youth Leader, Mazi Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to him, it is the vision of the Ohaneze leadership, to build a generation of young Igbo youths with integrity and humility, to ensure sustainability of the Igbo agenda.
He however said the youths should reciprocate by joining hands to salvage the Southeast, just as he appealed to the aggrieved ones to resolve their differences for the sake of peace in the zone.
He said, “Our youths must be humble before they can serve. It’s greed that drag them to pecuniary gains than delivering selfless service. You can’t afford to be using the name of Ohaneze for politics because we’re not a political party.
“Your actions should not contradict those of your fathers. It should rather be true reflection of what they stood and fought for and still fighting for.
“You can’t have someone like Iwuanyanwu, past President Generals, Obi of Onitsha and other elders in Ohaneze and your characters are not reflecting theirs. It’s only in Ohaneze that you see youths insulting their elders. You can’t see such among other tribes.”
Okeke-Ogene hinted that the current leadership under Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was making every effort to ensure Ndigbo across the country were carried along in the scheme of things.
“Ohaneze is virtually in all states in Nigeria. Currently, Iwuanyanwu has established three zones, one to take care of Igbos living in the 19 northern states and FCT, another for those in the West, with head office in Lagos, while those in Southeast and South-South have their head office in Enugu.
“We’ll now be having three zonal meetings with the NEC at the center. This arrangement is to ensure our activities get to the grassroots. We’ll embrace as many as are willing to join us.”
Responding, Okpalaezeukwu appreciated Okeke-Ogene for his invaluable advice borne out of love for the youths, assuring him of his members’ readiness to contribute their quota towards a united Ohaneze.
On his part, Grand patron of Ohaneze youths, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo described Okeke-Ogene as engine room and encyclopedia of Igbo culture, tradition, who had contributed immensely to developmental strides in Nigeria.
He announced donation of N5 million to Ohaneze youths in Anambra State by his Foundation for environmental friendly research aimed at protecting the state from natural disaster.
He also disclosed that 500 youths were to benefit from skills acquisition scheme of the Foundation targeted at pulling youths in the area out of crime.
He vowed to do everything possible to ensure youths were reasonably and responsibly positioned to contribute to national development.
