Setting the Pace: Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo Brings Charity to the Orphans and Elderly 

23 Apr, 2020  in News  tagged Collins Nweke / Ibusa / Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo by Emeka Esogbue

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Setting the Pace: Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo Brings Charity to the Orphans and Elderly

Report by Emeka Esogbue

The outbreak of the Coronavirus scourge now ravaging the globe is no longer news but what mankind can charitably make of it to survive the tide, which seems more realistic at this time and Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo is not left out in this measure for amelioration.

Since the eruption of the epidemic, an estimated twenty-five thousand indigenes and residents alike of the Ibusa community located in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have become adversely affected by the hardship unfortunately occasioned by the Coronavirus lockdown.

Worried by this sad global development, Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo, an Ibusa age group comprising Ibusa sons whose births are bracketed between 1963 and 1965 and ultimately rising to the occasion, the Age Group went statistical in its estimation that out of this vulnerable population, the hardest hit have been the orphans and the very elderly within the Ibusa society at least. This development hence, propelled the group to stand up for the cause of humanity.

Following recommendations from the leadership of the Age Group, the general membership decided to throw their weight behind this most vulnerable population group through a relief intervention programme as an amelioration.

And justifying this decision in a note by the Leadership of Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo to its members for approval, the President, ad interim, Dr Collins Nweke on behalf of the Executive Committee (ExCo) officially reported:

“Though relief interventions from Government and private individuals exist, none of these initiatives likely targeted, aided or paid any direct attention to the orphans and the very elderly amongst us. Yet this is a target group that can rightly be regarded as the most vulnerable of the vulnerables being the most deserving of our attention and benevolence”

Less than 48 hours after establishing its targeted budget and launching a fund mobilisation campaign, the Age Group of Ibusa sons born between January 1963 and December 1965, not only reached its target of 0,5 Million Naira but finely and impressively exceeded the target by 20 per cent.

“I have not seen anything like it before”, startlingly explained the General Secretary of the Group, Moses Emeagwai.

“The enthusiasm of members during the opening hours of donation was so infectious that it was almost challenging to keep up with the inflow of donation alerts”, Emeagwai further encouragingly argued.

He explained that any doubts that he may have harboured about the giving spirit of Ibusans and friends of Ibusa when it comes to ameliorating the sufferings of the less privileged was diminished by the great outcome of this project.

“The saying that little drops of water makes a mighty ocean, certainly rings true here. 5K here, 7K Naira there, all added up quickly to place us in good stead to be of value to fellow Ibusans”, he concluded.

In recounting his experience, the Treasurer of the Group, Onowu Henry Onianwa reminisced on the large heart of the larger society within and outside Igbuzo.

The Treasurer had this to say:

“Sometimes the help we seek in our efforts to be a force for good in our society is just a phone call away. If I am convinced that this is a project worthy of my backing, I do not see why a selected number of friends, associates and likeminded mates won’t be convinced too. And I was right because I observed that I simply needed to introduce the topic and before I could say much further, I am asked to send in the account details for transfer”. In conclusion, he described the experience as simply amazing.

For the Edini and Umejei Ibusa, a close-knit community with shared origins, history and relations, Age Grades or Groups over the years, have always been avenues for social interactions among happy members.

From Ogbo Nkulu of 1852 – 1854 to Ogbo Nkpulu Olulu of 1906 – 1908 through the Ogbo Felianza 1917 – 1919 to Ogbo Chi ji eshishe ji of 1946 – 1948 up to Ogbo Mbido Aya Biafra of 1966 – 1968, to mention but a few, every Ibusa Age Group has always received a special name and unique period that help to define its place and position in the community, causing it to be unique and relative to other Age Groups.

It has been historically emphasized that in the pre-colonial period, newly formed Age Groups had to prove themselves for maturity by defending the community against hostile neighbours or enemies and were marked by an initiation rite.

“While the fundamentals remain same, it is obvious that the concept of Age Grade would have to reinvent itself if it is to stand the test of the vagaries of the 21st Century” opined the President, ad interim, Collins Nweke.

From the Isieke-born Dr Nweke, we also hear that:

“The organisational realities we face today are different from those our fathers and grandfathers faced in organising the Ogbos. Today, however, many of our members are scattered across Nigeria and the Diaspora. Ordinarily this could be seen as a reality that presents organisational bottlenecks. Far from it! With modern IT and communication infrastructures, Ogbo Midwest has been able to connect and to frequently hold meetings across the globe, uniting members in Igbuzo with other Ibusa in Lagos, Brussels, London, Enugu, California, Port Harcourt, Toronto and more”.

While Ogbo Midwest is currently concluding the fine points of its Constitution under the Chairmanship of Barrister Charles K. Nmarkwe, one incontestable fact is the resolve of the Group to position itself as agent for cohesion, peace and development of their Igbuzo hometown!

“Age Groups have always been traditional tools. We must be determined to retool for deeper social and cultural impacts in Igbuzo” Nweke concludes.

At midday on Thursday 23 April 2020, led by Hon. Pat Mozea and Onowu Henry Onianwa representing the ExCo, Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo will be presenting relief packages to Pro Labore Dei Orphanage & Elderly Nursing Homes in Ogboli and Umuodafe Villages respectively as well as Shalom Orphanage in Umuehea Village commencing from Midday.

As we are seeing the Ogbo Mbido Aya Biafra and Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo changing the age grade narratives in Ibusa through the expansion and extension of agenda to readily and relevantly adjust to realities on ground, one interesting question that strikes the mind is the possibility of different Ibusa Age Grades to interact among themselves? This will go a long way to further move the Ibusa developmentally. But for now, anyone can rise in standing ovation for Ogbo Midwest Igbuzo, the Ibusa Age Grade fantastically and traditionally named after the creation of the Midwest region in Nigeria.

Further press inquiries, this Author helpfully refers you to
Hon. Pat Mozea who can be contacted via
Tel. / WhatsApp: +234 803 366 9135