The Igbo Think Tank Aka Ikenga gathered prominent leaders and members of the Igbo community on Sunday, December 17th, to celebrate the end of the year and honor exceptional Igbo sons and daughters.
The event was attended by Aka Ikenga President Chike Madueke, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide President Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and a host of major Igbo business and political figures.
According to a statement, in his opening remarks, Agbalanze Chike Madueke called for unity, inclusion and good governance in Nigeria.
“Part of our central mandate as an organization is the uncompromising advocacy for turn around leadership and good governance for our dear Country Nigeria, where equity, fairness, obedience to law and order, remain the development cornerstone of our country blessed with irrepressible diversities,” he said.
Madueke emphasized that events bringing the Igbo community together help strengthen the bonds that define Nigerians despite the immense diversity.
Iwuanyanwu echoed the calls for peace and unity, underscoring the Igbo people’s contributions to national development.
He stated that Nigeria‘s challenges are not unique to any one ethnicity.
He emphasized that our national challenges are not peculiar to any ethnicity, and should therefore not be isolated as a tag for denial or mistreatment of any either.
“We are one Nigeria, but we are also one Igbo nationality that deserves all sense of inclusion, commonality of purpose and rights of citizens everywhere as protected by the law of our land,” he said .
The chairman of the event, Senator Enyinna Abaribe said if for whatever reason Nigeria chooses to hold Ndigbo down politically or otherwise, such a strategy is bound to fail.
According to him, this is because the common saying is opposite, that if you hold someone down, you stay down too, to keep him company.
“The liberties and freedom of our people everywhere should not be class calibrated, but rule governed by our grund norm, the constitution transparently, “he said .
The ceremony included Aka Ikenga Awards conferred to leading Igbo entrepreneurs, executives and public servants.
Amongst the stalwarts that stood to be counted, were the first female managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, Dr Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, titan of Journalism, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, techpreneur Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, Air Peace founder, Dr Allen Onyema, transport Magnate Chisco Anyaegbu, Emzor CEO Dr Stella Okoli.
Others are Innoson Motors‘ Dr Chukwuma, AFRINVEST Dr Ike Chioke, United Airlines boss Prof Obiora Okonkwo, Dr Chris Ngige, Sen Mike Ajegbo, Prof Pat Utomi, Engr David Umahi, the current Minister of Works, and the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
