Ogbo Midwest Milestones: The Accomplishments of O
utgoing Secretary-General, Dr. Collins Nweke
By Emeka Esogbue
"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things."
-Ronald Reagan
The Ogbo Midwest is an Ibusa Age Grade of people born between 1963 and 1966 and according to Uche, O. A., the Age Grade association is a pattern through which members of the community are grouped into batches. Age set is a group born within the bracket of three years. The Ibusa community views them as groupings of people who are considered to be of the same age based on cultural norms and beliefs. It is on this basis that they come together to relate.
Furthermore, it is a social organization that brings together individuals of comparable ages to work toward the betterment of their society. It is widely regarded as the most significant socialization agent after the family system. Age groups are typically given distinctive names that aid in defining their roles within a community. This is the case with Ogbo Midwest, an Age Grade identified by the creation of the Midwest Region in the country.
The Midwest Region was formed in June 1963 as carved out from Benin and Delta Provinces of the Western Region with its capital located in Benin City. It is from this historical background that the Ibusa children, born within the period were socially graded with the name, "Ogbo Midwest."
The journey of the organization of Ogbo Midwest into an explicit purpose, written rules, conscious cooperation and that with a distinct existence began on April 19, 2019. With the support of members from a variety of prestigious endeavours, the organization launched to start achieving its aims.
Fortunately, Dr. Collins Nweke, a Belgium-based politician from Isieke in Ibusa first emerged as the Interim President of the Age Grade, a period he served from 2019 to 2020. Thereafter, he was elected as the Secretary General of the body and he served the Age Grade from 2020 to 2024. At the drop of a hat and even with ardent responsiveness and enthusiasm, he patriotically accepted to serve his fatherland, swinging into action with necessary policies to attain the heights.
Once elected, he came up with a principle of conduct, thought desirably necessary to benefit the body and its members. He launched a number of agendas for success, guided by the traditional ideology that the Ogbo Midwest was not just a social entity but also a symbol of unity, discipline, and progress, and that the idea of the Ogbo Midwest was an inherited timeless tradition of the Ibusa people, a bridge between the past and present.
He structured the ideal to cohere members into a single unit and there was oneness and unity of action among the members, enabling factors to achieve other feats for the organization. The leadership understood that members had to be supported to become capacitated to give back to the organization. The Age Grade raised about N10 million to support its bereaved members and others disadvantaged in one way or the other.
The administration made efforts at a constitutional review policy and further recommended it to the coming administration to ensure that the Age Grade is guided by rules and regulations. The Nweke-led administration envisaged that a foundational document would outline the Ogbo Midwest Age Grade purpose, structure and rules. Among other things, it would specify the organization's identity, decision-making process, and the duties and responsibilities of officials and members.
Once more, Dr. Collins Nweke's leadership has considered the importance of updating the organization without sacrificing its traditional character. Indeed, there was the need to search for a middle ground between the ancient and modernity. Utilizing 21st century techniques to enhance its anticipated benefits to members and the community at large was necessary to accomplish this. The Secretary General and his departing executives received exceptionally high scores in this specific area.
With the use of social media, the Ogbo Midwest members became united so that distance and location of members counted only very little. In 2023, the Secretary General, Dr. Collins donated a functional website to Ogbo Midwest which now serves Ibusa interest as a whole.
The website now creates customary online presence to showcase the culture of the Ibusa community and to provide a platform to share news, information and updates on the community. The website also helps to establish credibility, build trust and enhance the reputation of the Ogbo Midwest through online presence.
Being a new organization, the administration led by Collins Nweke created the substructure that is anticipated to be incorporated by the organization's future leaders. Fortunately, the administration accomplished another amazing job by establishing an election commission, which guarantees that competent successors will succeed the current administration.
Perhaps, one of the biggest feats made by the outgoing administration is in the area of cultural promotion of the Ibusa people. Amid the trend of Christianity, modernization and western civilization, the leadership thought the preservation of the people's culture. Dr. Collins Nweke, by his stance and support for culture, encouraged members towards accepting their traditional rites, ways and statuses. As a result, the Age Grade members took part in and performed well in Iwaji, Ifejioku, and other community festivals. There was the realization among members that the people's culture was not only worth preserving for the coming generation but promoted the cultural world.
It was just a question of time until the organization's popularity increased, spread, and gained legitimacy—a trend that HRM Obi Prof. Louis Nwaoboshi commended. The Obuzo of Ibusa had every reason to eulogize the famous Ogbo Midwest for while many Age Grades were rarely heard of in the community. Ogbo Midwest had achieved fame based on achievements. Successors will inherit from Collins Nweke not only for templates of management tools but also digital footprints of managerial feats.
Despite facing challenges, including inactive executive members, Dr. Nweke's administration remained committed to achieving its goals. As he passes the torch to his successors, his legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and guide Ogbo Midwest toward even greater heights.
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