•Consecration of first national title holders in Enugu amid pomp
From Jude Chinedu, Nsukka
History was made at the GRA Enugu National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the weekend as the Ozo society staged its maiden national title oath taking otherwise called Ichiozo.
It was glamour at its peak. Elegance was displayed all through the event. Colourful attires dotted the arena of the historic event organised by Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo in Nigeria.
In Igbo culture, “Nze na Ozo” (or simply “Ozo”) title holders are individuals of high social standing, seen as moral leaders and custodians of the community’s values, often acting as arbitrators and leaders in times of crisis.
The Ozo title is the highest and most important spiritual, social, and religious grouping in Igbo society. Ozo title taking was usually at the local or community level. So, the event of Saturday, March 29, 2025, was very significant as it was the first time that there was consecration of Ozo titles at a national level.
The Ozo Ohamadike and National Chairman, Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo, Nigeria, Prof Ike Oluka, said the event became necessary rder to expand the Ozo institution to have Igbo national outlook: “Throughout its several centuries of existence, the Ozo traditional institution has been operating in silos at village and community levels.
“Hence, we have Ozo Ndi Nri, Ozo Enugwu Ukwu, Ozo Onitsha, Ozo Eke, Ozo Ngwo, etc, all independent of each other. The community operational structure gave room to differences in standards, norms and values among the communities, resulting to the existence of different variants of Ozo in quality, values and practices.
“These variants of Ozo, including the traditionalist’s version (Ozo Omenani Igbo), the Christian version (Ozo –Uka) and other versions resulting across the communities created a scenario akin to a divided house against itself.
“Consequently, the Ozo institution dwindled in value, diminished in content and even became extinct in some communities until the recent rescue by Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo, Nigeria (NONIN) in 2011 through advocacy, retreats, mobilization, education and harmonization of some of the opinions and practices of the Ozo variants
“Let it be known to the world that Ichiozo at Igbo national level is all about adding another higher level called Igbo national level to the existing ichi Ozo structure which starts with family/Umunna level, ward level, village level and community level.
“That is the reason no one gets into the National Ozo without being an Ozo in one community or the other. We reasoned that if it is necessary to have Ozo at village/community levels, it is also important to have same at Igbo national level to connect and bring together all the Ozo communities in Igbo land.
“The move became exigent following the increasing closer cooperation among Igbo states and communities culminating to the creation of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and the proposals for Ndi Igbo to have central socio-cultural events like Iguaro Ndi Igbo, Igbo New Yam Festival and others.”
Daily Sun gathered that while the Igbo National Ozo titleholders operate at Igbo regional, national and international events, the village/community Ozo title holders handle Igbo village and community affairs.
Stressing their desire to have a unifying standard as Ndiozo, Oluka called for the support all and sundry including Ndiozo, traditional rulers, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to enable them achieve their lofty goals.