ABUJA, Nigeria — The Igbo Community Association of the Federal Capital Territory (ICA FCT) has called for a decisive shift in priorities among Igbo communities worldwide, urging a move away from what it described as the growing “proliferation” of diaspora “Ezeship” toward more substantive efforts to strengthen unity and long-term cultural sustainability.
In a strongly worded statement emailed to The Trent on Friday, April 3, 2026, the association, led by its President General, Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, warned that Ndigbo face a “clear and present danger” in Nigeria’s evolving socio-political landscape, stressing that symbolic titles in foreign lands must give way to practical, forward-looking initiatives.
“Our Igbo community unions across Nigeria and the wider diaspora must sit up and smell the coffee,” the statement read.
“It is time to embrace groundbreaking, innovative social development to sustain the Igbo spirit for future generations and to survive the ongoing onslaught on our existence as a people.”
Call for Institutional Legacy
At the heart of the association’s proposal is the creation of an Igbo Worldwide Library and Museum, envisioned as a global cultural and intellectual hub dedicated to preserving Igbo heritage, history, and identity.
The ICA FCT emphasised that the project should be privately funded and managed by Igbo individuals, independent of both state and federal government structures, in order to ensure autonomy and long-term viability.
The group argued that such institution-building efforts represent a more meaningful legacy than what it described as the “constant infestation” of Ezeigbo titles across diaspora communities, a trend it said risks diminishing cultural seriousness and cohesion.
Backing Ohanaeze Leadership
The association also reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by John Azuta-Mbata, describing the body as central to advancing Igbo interests at a critical time.
It called on Ndigbo globally to rally behind the apex organisation, noting that coordinated leadership would be essential in navigating current and future challenges.
“Our prayer is for Igbos to unify worldwide, moving away from the comedy of Ezeships in foreign lands and toward the goal of collective strength,” the statement said.
A Broader Warning
The ICA FCT’s intervention reflects growing concern among socio-cultural leaders about fragmentation within Igbo communities, particularly in the diaspora, where traditional structures are increasingly replicated without corresponding institutional or developmental impact.
By urging a pivot toward strategic cultural investments and collective organisation, the group framed its message not merely as criticism, but as a call to redefine how Igbo identity is preserved and projected in a rapidly changing world.
The Igbo Community Association of the Federal Capital Territory (ICA FCT) serves as the umbrella socio-cultural body representing Ndigbo in Abuja.
The organisation focuses on promoting unity, preserving cultural heritage, and advancing initiatives aimed at strengthening Igbo identity both locally and globally.
