In keeping with its resolve to accord befitting final rites of passage to the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group has announced the setting up of a funeral planning committee for the burial of the late Igbo leader.
The burial of the late Iwuanyanwu has formally been fixed for the 1st of November, 2024, as was announced by the national burial planning committee.
Addressing a world press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the acting National Youth Leader of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Chukwukwu Okpalaezeukwu said they are in constant communication with the Iwuanyanwu family and that they are determined, as the apex Igbo Youth organisation, to accord him the highest honor deserving of his service to Nigeria.
Okpalaezeukwu, explained that the decision to set up the funeral planning committee was to celebrate and immortalize the enviable legacies of the late Iwuanyanwu.
The youths described Chief Iwuanyanwu as a Father figure, role model, and mentor to millions of Igbo Youths in the areas of Education, Politics, Business, Sports, and other spheres of human endeavors, most of whom are today, champions in their various fields.
“At Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, we recognize Iwuanyanwu’s far-reaching developmental and progressive strides in over six decades of his active service to Igbo land and Nigeria at large; especially his contributions to the formation, sustainability, and growth of the apex Igbo sociopolitical and cultural organization, as well as his personal investments to stabilizing the leadership of our wing,” Okpalaezeukwu noted.
Speaking also on the activities, policy interventions, and advocacies of the Ohaneze Ndigbo youths aimed at advancing and protecting the political, economic, social, and security interests of the Igbo Youths in Nigeria, Okpalaezeukwu said they are on a strategic working visit to the Federal Capital Territory, to engage with critical Government and Security Agencies on issues that affect Igbo land.
“We have had a fruitful deliberation with the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Distinguished Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and his Team where we have expressed concerns and emphasized the need for continuous and unrelenting reforms of the Petroleum Sector with Policies that benefit the ordinary people and improve the overall well-being of Nigeria Economy.
“We acknowledge the challenges inherent in the Removal of Subsidy and the impact of Infrastructural deficiencies in the Sector, and We are very proud of the uncommon achievements recorded so far by the Tinubu administration ranging from an Increase in Crude Oil Production from 1mbpd to 1.7mbpd, Engagement and Enhancement of Investors and Investments respectively, Technology adoption, Infrastructure Development and other critical factors that positively impact the Economy.
“We therefore declare our Solidarity and Support to the genuine efforts and commitment of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other collaborating agencies and entities especially the NNPCL ably led by Mele Kyari and his Team,” he said.
The Igbo youth leader further advocated for more effective and impactful community and youth engagement and development in ways that shall control restiveness and further address, sabotage, vandalization, and theft in the petroleum sector, saying “We shall continue to engage with the Ministry and participate in their various development activities and programmes in order to maximize impact and serve the purpose.”
