The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has inaugurated a standing cultural committee headed by the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe.
The fundamental mandate of the committee is to harmonize various aspects of Igbo culture, particularly the Iri Ji (New Yam) festival with a view to having a common cultural calendar.
Members of the committee include, Chairman of traditional rulers’ councils in the rest of Igbo states.
Mr Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, spoke to Journalists 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, June 27, said the harmonization 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 harmonize 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 stated.
The NEC also established a local organizing 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.
According to report, this year’s Igbo Day celebration will be held on September 29.
However, Ohanaeze NEC discussed 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 to contribute to its purse through the internet.
After much deliberation by professionals, it was agreed that this would boost Ohanaeze’s financial base and make the organization more independent since it would no longer depend on anybody, groups or state governors for financing.
