Ozo Traditional Institution Is The Major Pillar Of Igbo Genuineness - Oluka
It is not an exaggeration to say that not few Ndigbo today live in a culture where they are highly focused on the next best modern products, services and ideas. We focus on the next best item of sophistication to buy. Our lives are always looking to the next thing from Europe and America. When someone upsets us, or they no longer fulfill our happiness, we walk away, looking for our next modern way of relaxation. Our souls rarely settle, as our lives are planned, priced out, and seeking perfection from modern and technological perspectives. Sadly, we do not even notice the aching question behind our search for the next best item of modernity to the detriment of “Omenala Ndigbo”.
However, as luck would have it, Alaigbo is richly blessed with highly educated men and women who can in this context be called curators of Omenala Ndigbo so much that by virtue of their deep seated interest in everything Igbo, it would be impossible for Igbo culture and tradition to go into extinction. Just to mention few of such egg headed personalities in this context, for the sake of clarityare Prof Ike Oluka, the National Chairman of “Nzuko OzoNdigbo” and Prof. Agu Gab Agu, who is an Ozo title holder in Ngwo community of Enugu state, an eminent Law teacher at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
Without any scintilla of exaggeration, permit me to say that my view about the extant nature of Omenala Ndigbo was formed when, in the course of news gathering as a Journalist, I travelled to Anambra State early this year to cover the celebration of the 1023rd “Igu Aro Ndi Igbo” at NriKingdom in Anaocha Local Government Area of the State,and at the event, I witnessed how people that have both national and international reputations in various fields of endeavor exhibited collective passionate interest towards the sustenance of Omenala Ndigbo. Truly, I was impressed, and highly inspired to be proud of being an Igbo woman.
To recall the degree of importance attached to the event, it was partly sponsored by Nigerian Breweries PLC, MTN Nigeria and Milani Cosmetics Nigeria. It was a carnival of sorts.
Gainfully enough, I personally considered the event to be an added advantage to my journalism career as it offered me the opportunity of engaging Prof. Ike Oluka in a media parley; on the sideline of the event.
The professor, who arguably came across as a connoisseur of Omenala Ndigbo interactively walked me through everything about “Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo” particularly as the political and socio-cultural body was at the time marking its ten years anniversary. To aptly put it, he no doubt displayed an encyclopedic knowledge of the body to the admiration of yours sincerely.
On what the Ozo traditional Institution is all about, Olukasaid, “The Ozo Traditional Institution is the original and major pillar of Igbo authenticity. It possesses genuinely original philosophical foundations for sustainable political and socio-cultural existence of Ndi-Igbo.
On the characteristics of an Ozo title holder, he explained that “virtues that are expected from an Ozo cut across truthfulness and even-handedness in the conduct of personal and public affairs, demonstration of strength of character, leadership and reliability in inter personal relationship; maintenance of peace between self, God and Ancestors; having capacity for good judgment and demonstrable honesty in the process of gradual acquisition of wealth; Upholding of the “Ofo” and abhorrence of crime and evil particularly acts of theft and treachery, etc.
As the time of parleying with him coincided with the 10thAnniversary of the traditional institution, he said in reaction to the question on how he felt about Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo, thus: “The institution is an association of Ozo title holders in Nigeria. As part of our activities to mark our 10 years Anniversary, Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo, happily welcomes new members to its fold. To qualify to be a member, a prospective new member must have been a fully ordained Ozo title holder from a recognized community in Igbo land. Individual and group memberships are allowed. Such an individual or group of Ozo title holders shall be verified and confirmed by an Area/State Coordinator of the Nzuko OzoNdi Igbo.
On the aims and objectives of Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo, the erudite professor said it aims at repositioning the Ozotraditional institution for relevance, responsibility andfunctionality across Igboland, to bring up and unify the OZO system and equivalent institutions in each of the communities in Igbo land, to identify the good attributes/qualities of a good Ozo, inculcate and propagate such qualities among our people, with a view to develop new generation of Ndi Igbo with strong and enviable characters to positively change the value systems and the world view of Ndi Igbo and to document and provide the intellectual base and future direction of the Ozo institution in the scheme of things in Igboland. Other aims and objectives are to generally engage in activities and practices necessary to promote Igbo culture and unity, and to socialize, promote love and good brotherhood among members as well as good citizenship in Igboland and Nigeria.
At the parley, he said “Interested Ozo title holders, who may like to grow beyond the local confinement of his village Ozo system are hereby invited to join Nzuko OzoNdi Igbo”, and that for further details, those who feel they are qualified should contact him.
Sandra Ijeoma Okoye (Author)