United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide - News Blog

  BEING A SPEECH DELIVERED BY H. E. PASTOR MICHAEL OBIERIKA AT A UNIEC SUMMIT Distinguished Elders, Respected Leaders, my brothers and sisters in the struggle for the survival and prosperity of Ndigbo—I speak to you this morning as a Concerned Elder Statesman.  Just a few days ago, the Lagos State Government sent in its bulldozers. And in the twinkling of an eye, Alaba Rago —was demolished, reduced to dust and silence. In case you do not know, Alaba Rago is that sprawling Hausa cattle market that had fed countless families, powered trade, and stood as a testimony to Northern enterprise in Lagos.  That, my people, is not just the fall of a market. It is a warning from history . A message written in bold letters, not only to the Hausa who owned that market, but especially to us, the Igbo—because we, more than any other people, have invested the sweat of our brow and the blood of our youth into Lagos. But let me ask us here today: if Alaba Rago could fall, what t...

IGBO COMMUNITIES CARVED INTO BENUE STATE  Enough is Enough! UNIEC Calls for Return of Igbo-Speaking Communities from Benue State to South East United Igbo Elders Congress Demands Reunification of Ancestral Homelands, Citing Historical Injustice and Cultural Ties August 25, 2025 - The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide (UNIEC) has issued a powerful declaration demanding the immediate return of Igbo-speaking communities currently within Benue State to their ancestral homeland in Nigeria's South East region. In the emotion laden appeal, H. E. Pastor Michael Obierika, Secretary of Board of Trustees, highlights decades of perceived political exile and cultural fragmentation affecting these communities. The communities in question—including Ado, Oju, Okpokwu, Igumale, Ulayi, Utonkon, and Agila—maintain strong Igbo cultural, linguistic, and ancestral ties despite being administratively separated from their kin by state boundaries established during post-colonial administrative restruct...

 “For Ndigbo’s sake, we will not keep silent — until justice stands and our place is secure.” Because we are UNIEC! The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide. Others may remain silent in the face of tyranny.  Others may sell the Igbo cause for a mess of pottage.  But we cannot, we will not and we must not! Because we are UNIEC - THE UNITED IGBO ELDERS CONGRESS WORLDWIDE! 

United Igbo Elders Congress: Project Reposition Ndigbo (6-Point Agenda) The United Igbo Elders Congress proposes the following agenda to reposition the Igbo nation: 1. Equitable State Creation Establish new states in the South East by reclaiming Igbo communities in non-Igbo states (Edo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Kogi, Benue), avoiding further fragmentation of the core region. Example: The proposed Anioma State. 2. Parity in Local Governance Increase Local Government Councils across Igbo states to match allocations in states like Kano, ensuring fair resource distribution and administrative equity. 3. Revitalized Maritime Economy Rehabilitate abandoned eastern seaports (e.g., Onitsha River Port) and develop new ports in strategic locations like Oguta to boost regional commerce. 4. Integrated Regional Transport Establish modern rail networks connecting all South East state capitals to facilitate seamless movement of people and goods. 5. Conflict Resolution & National Healing Advocate for the...

  UNIEC Vows to Resist the Marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria.  The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide (UNIEC) wishes to reaffirm its non-partisan stance. As a body, we do not endorse, promote, or antagonize any political party or government. Our members are drawn from diverse political leanings, yet we are united under one sacred mandate: the protection of the dignity and rightful place of the Igbo nation in Nigeria. However, let it be known — loud and clear — that we will never fold our hands and watch any political party, any administration, or any political actor attempt to sideline Ndigbo in the affairs of this country. To imagine such is to provoke our collective conscience. To attempt such is to invite our united resistance. We shall rise, not with violence or abuse, but with the full force of diplomacy, persuasion, and moral authority. We shall deploy every legitimate instrument at our disposal to ensure that the Igbo voice is neither silenced nor diminished in...

The United Igbo Elders Congress (UNIEC) While UNIEC is apolitical, we do not bar our members from active participation in politics. Our doors are open to all, and our membership cuts across political, religious, and social divides. Within our noble organization, we have politicians and non-politicians; clergy and traditionalists; the educated and the uneducated; the rich and the poor; men and women alike. All find a home here, united by a common purpose. That purpose is singular and unwavering: to reposition Ndigbo in the scheme of things in Nigeria. We do not endorse any political party, nor do we stand in enmity with any. We accommodate every Igbo elder who shares our vision. However, when we gather, each member must leave political leanings, religious affiliations, and social status at the door, and step in with one identity only — Igbo Elder. If a member belonging to Party A, B, or C invites us to a celebration, we attend as individuals, not as UNIEC. For us, politics, religion, an...

 Moribund Industries in IGBO-SPEAKING STATES OF Nigeria: The Case of Nkalagu Cement Factory and Beyond Introduction The Igbo-speaking region of Nigeria, historically known for enterprise and ingenuity, once stood as a thriving industrial corridor. From textiles in Aba to breweries in Umuahia and cement in Nkalagu, from rubber processing in Delta to coal mining in Enugu, industries dotted the region, employing thousands, fueling local economies, and supporting Nigeria’s post-independence industrialisation dreams. Yet, decades later, many of these once-proud enterprises lie in ruins—silent, rusting reminders of ambition derailed. Among them, the Nkalagu Cement Factory (NIGERCEM) remains the most symbolic, but it is by no means alone. Together, they paint a sobering picture of how policy inconsistency, corruption, and neglect turned vibrant factories into ghostly relics. Nkalagu Cement Factory: The Symbol of Lost Promise Established in 1954, Nkalagu was Nigeria’s first indigenous ceme...

Reviving Moribund Industries in Igbo-Speaking States: A Call to Conscience and Action Today, we at the United Igbo Elders Congress gather, not just to speak about industries, but to speak about the soul of a people. For industries are not merely machines, they are the lifeblood of communities; they are the dignity of labour, the foundation of prosperity, and the assurance of generational survival. The Legacy We Inherited In the years following the devastation of the Nigerian civil war, our people rose from the ashes with grit and ingenuity. With twenty pounds left in our fathers’ pockets, we built industries that fed nations, clothed people, and built cities. Nkalagu Cement Factory (Ebonyi State), established in 1957, was Nigeria’s first cement factory. From its kilns came the cement that built roads, bridges, and schools across Nigeria. Nkalagu was not just a factory; it was a town, a heartbeat of Eastern Nigeria. Aba Textile Mill (Abia State) was once the pride of West Africa. Its lo...

  PRESS RELEASE UNITED IGBO ELDERS CONGRESS WORLDWIDE (UNIEC): A MOVEMENT OF NON-PARTISAN, NON-PROFIT ELDER-STATESMEN The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide (UNIEC) wishes to inform the general public, stakeholders, and all well-meaning Nigerians that it is a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit, and non-religious movement of Igbo Elder-statesmen. UNIEC is committed to the advancement of the Igbo nation within the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria. As Elders, we stand for wisdom, moderation, dialogue, and constructive engagement in addressing issues that affect our people and the wider Nigerian society. We wish to emphasize that our membership cuts across various political affiliations and religious backgrounds. For this reason, UNIEC does not, as a body, endorse or attack any political party, ethnic group, or religion. Instead, we provide a platform where respected voices of experience can contribute to nation-building, unity, justice, and peace. Our vision is rooted in...

  PRESS RELEASE United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide Advocating for the Rights of Ndigbo in a United and Indivisible Nigeria .  Enugu, Nigeria — August 17, 2025 The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide (UNIEC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the advancement and protection of Igbo interests within the framework of a just, equitable, and indivisible Nigeria. In line with our guiding principles, UNIEC adopts a non-kinetic, non-violent, and non-abusive approach in the execution of Project Reposition Ndigbo in Nigeria. We strongly believe that dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive engagement remain the most effective tools in addressing the challenges facing our people. However, we emphasize that any matter that undermines the well-being, dignity, or rights of Ndigbo is of serious concern to us. We cannot, and will not, stand by in silence while an Igbo person is unjustly treated, as exemplified in the case of Nnamdi Kanu. The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide ...