The Igbo community in Ireland is planning an elaborate two-day event in honour of Chief Chukwuemeka Odu-megwu Ojukwu, the late leader of the Igbo nation in Nigeria.
Under the theme of ‘Celebrating the Man Ojukwu’, events will consist of a march on 2 February at 2pm from the Garden of Remembrance to the GPO, where there will be a candlelight vigil involving several Igbo indigenes living in Ireland.
Then on 5 February at 2pm an interdenominational church service with speeches from community members will take place at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
Chief Ojukwu died on 26 November last at a London hospital following a protracted illness. He was 78. His burial is scheduled for 3 February in Nnewi, Anambra State in Nigeria.
Leader of over 30 million Igbo nationals across the world, Chief Ojukwu secured his place in history when he successfully highlighted the plight of his people in the wake of mass killings in northern Nigeria, and his subsequent unsuccessful attempt to secede from Nigeria.
Until death, the late Chief Ojukwu was regarded as charismatic, outspoken, foresighted and often controversial in relation to his views and vision for a modern Nigeria. But he was loved and held in high esteem by the Igbo people and many other Nigerians.
Across the world, Ndi Igbo are making plans to celebrate the life of their former leader. In Ireland, funeral plans are taking place simultaneously in different counties, co-ordinated by the Ojukwu Funeral Steering Committee set up by the Igbo Union Ireland.
To this end, a group of Igbo leaders paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Felix Y Pwol on Thursday 5 January at the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin.
Ambassador Pwol said was delighted to meet with the group and requested a formal programme of events for the funeral.
He also used the opportunity to state that his “mission is to strengthen the image of Nigeria in Ireland, while ensuring that Nigerians remain law abiding with a guarantee to receive fair representation devoid of discrimination as they go about their pursuit of an honest living.”
For details on the 5 February church service contact Chike Okebugwu at 087 919 7104; Kelechi JK Onwumereh at 085 728 2809; or Debsandy at 087 272 8569.
